It was 2am outside the Opal Avenue hotel.

My fingers dig into my left arm, Im afraid of possible consequences from the last thing I placed there.

Not that such things matter now.

My eyes are scanning the surroundings, my limbs aching, waiting for a call to action. Me and my mates are well practiced at this part. knew all the ways of encircling, watching, patience.

At all hours prospects would come and go from this place.

All we required was thoughtlessness. an instant where someone let their mind wander.

An overlooked moment in which to make our move.

We hungered, we hurt.

Relief was always transitory…. However wasn't everything in this world?

Not that such things matter now.

My moment arrived. Without a word between us, me and my mates move forward.

Once I had been more than I an now. The substance over time had leached out. I had allowed it to leach out.

Not that such things matter now.

The car we were approaching doesn't matter, the age of the people besides the car doesn't matter.

What mattered was they had a dog, one who did not like being placed on a leash.

The car was open and the bags set aside, the man was attempting to attach the dogs leash, the women attempting to keep the struggling dog in place.

One of my mates walks into view of the man and woman. their eyes lock onto the man, a jolt of fear present on their faces as they try to reorder their thoughts.

in this instant I grab their left most bag, our last coconspirator takes their right bag. The suspect man keeps the attentions of the man and women long enough for us to walk out of sight.

We run the moment we hear shouting.

My legs more out of memory than anything, make the journey to our regrouping point.

The bags strap eats into my shoulder, I think it must weight half as much as me. Im hopeful our haul was worth SOMETHING.

The pain was awful, however I manage to slump down and release my charge next to my mate. Who was already tearing into his bag. The suspect man pushes me aside and begins rummaging through the bag I had been carrying.

I lay with my back pressed into the alleyway, it felt cold… or was it just me?

I watch, as over exertion had rendered me more doll than person. As the items are sorted. The haul was mostly useless.

However mostly was a large enough margin to buy us another day.

For my mates left and then returned with what we needed.

The bags worth converted into what we valued.

The kiss of the needle was less bliss, and more respite.

I wonder when feeling bliss had traded places with feeling adequate.

The suspect man spoke of concern for the dog, as it now no longer hand owners.

Not that such things matter now.