Mariah trudged home once again with a load of homework. She rarely ever saw the light of day nor did she have any visitors.. She lived in a tiny basement apartment that no one really wanted.. The outside was dingy and trash thrown about. She side stepped over the worst of it and stepped on the least of the rubbish on her way to a door which was partially hidden behind the stairs heading to the upstairs apartment.<br/><br/>Once inside, she closed and locked the door then did a quick search of her apartment for any intruders. She never did have any intruders but one can't be too sure or too careful these days. As she checked the small bedroom, she smiled at the new quilt that she had saved for which was neatly put on her bed just the night before. The bathroom held an old fashion lion footed tub, toilet and sink with a closet for her clothes and one for the towels. The living room and kitchen combo was a simple affair of a TV, sofa and a bar stool at the kitchen counter. No tables any where to be seen. She placed the several cast iron cats in front of the door as an extra security measure.<br/>She then walked to the stove to put on a kettle of water for tea and began her evening of studying before she ate then head to bed to repeat the process each school day.