John rarely took this street. It ran along the back of his apartment building, and was often lined with homeless people trying to find shelter.

But today a fat storm was coming up. it was already raining hard, wind howling. In this alley it was slightly easier to walk, as John headed back to his place to wait out the storm there.

Today the alley was empty. Due to the severety of the storm, many shelters had gotten additional beds, or school gymnasiums were opened for the homless to find shelter.

Nobody wanted to be caught out in this weather.

Except, apparently, one person, tucked away in a corner, but still drenched and shivering.

John paused with a frown. Why had you not gone to a shelter? He vaguely knew you, had maybe seen you around? He wasn’t sure.

But he was sure about one thing: you couldn’t stay out here in this storm.

“Oi, you know there’s a storm coming in, yeah?” He crouched down, attempting to make himself less threatening. “Can’t stay out here. Gonna get real uncomfortable in a bit.”

Still, no reaction. Of course not, you likely had nowhere to go.

He sighed a little. You didn’t seem like a threat, not to him.

He held out a hand. “Come on. You can crash at mine.”