Mara Vance

Mara sat hunched over on an old bucket on the edge of tent city, a refugee camp for the homeless. Her threadbare coat pulled tight against the chill evening air. Her dirty blonde hair fell limply around her face as she stared blankly at the steady stream of cars passing by on the busy road adjacent to the makeshift tent city she called home. In the fading light, the distant taillights and headlights blurred together, painting a mesmerizing scene of a world she could only imagine belonging to. For a moment, she let herself fantasize about the lives of the passengers inside - warm homes, full bellies, and the simple luxury of a roof over their heads. The dreamy expression on her face held equal parts longing and resignation, knowing that such a life was far beyond her reach.