I slumped into the darkest corner of the alleyway, away from the prying eyes of the market crowd. My body shook, not just from the chill, but from the crushing weight of my situation. I pulled my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around myself, burying my face in the soft fabric of my jacket.
"Why me?" I sobbed, my voice trembling. "Why did this have to happen to me? Is this because I loved those historical dramas so much? Is this my punishment for wanting to see the past?"
The tears wouldn't stop. It felt unfair. I was just a girl who wanted a vacation, and now I was trapped in a world that didn't know how to treat me. I clutched my jacket tighter. At least I have this, I thought. It's the only thing I have left to protect me from the freezing night air.
Then, a sudden thought struck me. My jacket was made of high-quality synthetic fabric—something completely unknown in this era. It was rare. Maybe I could sell it.
I wiped my face and stood up, my legs feeling like lead. I walked back toward the pawn shop, my heart pounding in my chest. When I stepped inside, the old man looked up from a pile of rusted metal, his bushy eyebrows rising in surprise.
"You again?" he grunted. He peered at me, then his eyes flicked to my empty hands. "Where is the gold I gave you? Did those thieves take it?"
I felt a fresh wave of tears stinging my eyes, but I bit my lip and forced myself to stay strong. I couldn't break down now. I pulled off my jacket, holding it out to him with trembling hands. "Just look at this. Do you think you can sell it?"
The old man took the jacket, his fingers feeling the zipper and the smooth lining. He held it up to the light, inspecting it critically for a long time.
"The fabric is strange," he murmured. "It is soft, yet tough. I have never seen such stitching. But... no lady in this town would want to wear a garment like this. It is too odd."
My heart sank. I turned to leave, feeling completely hopeless.
"Wait," he called out, his voice softer now. "I did not say I would not take it. I can buy it from you."
I paused, looking back, confused. "Why? You just said it would be hard to sell."
He sighed, looking at me with a mix of pity and annoyance. "Because you look like you are about to freeze to death, and perhaps a traveler passing through might find it curious enough to buy. But I cannot give you much for it. It is a gamble for me. Do you still want to sell?"
I hesitated for a moment, thinking of the cold night ahead, but then I thought of my empty stomach. "I agree," I whispered.
He handed me a small pouch of silver coins. As I turned to leave, he shouted, "Hey! Wait, young lady!"
I stopped and looked back. He threw something at me. I caught it—it was a thin, worn-out wool blanket.
"Your clothes are not enough for the weather tonight," he grumbled. "That blanket will at least keep some of the heat in."
"Thank you," I said, surprised by his kindness.
I walked out of the shop and hid my new money deep in my inner pocket, pinning it shut so no one could steal it again. I walked into the market, trying to look invisible. I stopped at an apple stall, the fruit looking bright and delicious.
"How much for an apple?" I asked the woman behind the stall.
"One silver coin each," she replied flatly.
I checked my pouch. I only had six silver coins left. I was about to reach for one when I saw two small children standing nearby. They were thin and dirty, staring at the apples with wide, hungry eyes. They were clutching their stomachs and drooling. The apple seller shooed them away, "Get lost, you little beggars!"
They walked away, their heads down. I saw myself in them—alone, hungry, and trying to survive. Without thinking, I bought three apples. I walked over to the children and handed two of them over.
"Here," I said softly.
They looked at me in shock, then grabbed the apples, whispered a quick "Thank you!" and ran off into the crowd. I stood there, smiling as I watched them go.
I found a quiet corner and sat down, taking a bite of my own apple. My smile slowly faded as I looked at the three silver coins left in my hand.
"What are you doing, Mary Ann?" I muttered to myself. "You only have three silver coins left. How are you going to survive now?"
I looked like a crazy person, talking to myself in a corner, but I couldn't help it. I watched the two children playing nearby, and I realized they were fighting to survive, just like me. I sighed, leaning my head against the cold stone wall.
How long have I been here? I wondered, staring at the sky as it began to turn dark. And will I ever find a way to go back to my own time?