âThat piece of trash was asking for it,â Regina muttered as she watched the drunkard stumble away into the night. âWith moves like that, heâs obviously been in more scraps than you can count.â
The homeless man hadn't needed to step in this time; Regina had felt the heft of a brick in her hand, ready to hurl it at the back of the drunkardâs head. But it was the homeless man who had acted first, landing a solid punch that sent the drunkard reeling.
When they had moved to a quieter spot, Regina finally broke the silence, âSo you do speak. And here | thought you were gonna play the strong, silent type forever.â
The man didnât respond to Reginaâs sarcasm. He just wrapped a tattered coat around his shoulders and settled himself on an old blanket.
âYou haven't been through what Iâve been through,â he finally said, his voice low and heavy with unspoken stories.
Regina caught his implication. Was he suggesting that if she had lived his life, sheâd understand his choices? But what she couldnât wrap her head around was why, if these things had truly happened to him, he wouldnât go to the press with his story? It could offer him another avenue to fight his plight. What was the point of wandering around this desolate lot that was about to be developed?
She frowned, pressing him on why he wouldn't speak to reporters, only to be met with a glare that could freeze coffee.
âAre any of you reporters decent? A year ago, | might have just lost my house. But after talking to your kind, | lost my family too.
Would you trust the press after that?â
Her heart sank. She'd sensed his disdain for journalists, but never imagined the profession had such a profoundly negative impact on his life.
âI'm sorry for whatever happened to you because of my colleagues. Iâm still green in th job, | know, but | genuinely want to help you out of this situation,â Regina said earnest! want to uncover what's really happened here. Why do people sing praises of the developers, calling them generous, when theyâve obviously crossed you and your famil There has to be more to the story.â
After a long silence, the man let out a bitter chuckle. âMy family? | donât have one anymore. Why was | the only one who didnât just pack up and leave easily like everyone else? | was naive to think that unity could stand up to them.â
âThem? The developers?â Reginaâs pulse quickened, sensing a breakthrough. âDid wel eis even eneryone eutt He Sy ed. âI'd love to confront those developers and ask them why they coveted our homes.
Why did they have to displace us just because they fancied the land beneath our feet?â
Regina paused before replying, âIf their offer was fair, it could have been a win-win, situation.â
He scoffed. âFair? Why should | give up the home | worked years for Just tomove tEdokne nsw place? Who says a new house is better than mine?â
The manâs laugh was hollow, echoing the emptiness of lost dreams and a community shattered by greed.
As Regina listened, she knew she was on the cu isk story thatedile crempe beat g-if only she could get to the heart of it.