A/N: Hello, sorry it took so long for me to update. I've been working on my other stories, Brighter Than Sunshine and Why Do I Love You?

Anyways, hope you enjoy!

Life is hard. It always has been and it always will be. When will we discover its secrets? Its beauty? When?

"You have to open your heart, Jamal." Latika had once told me. "Once you open your heart you can then open your eyes and find light, find beauty."

"Jamal! C'mon! We have more supplies!" Salim called to me from the other side of the train, his curly hair was whipping his face. I slowly got to my feet and made my way toward him. We had grown quite a bit since I last saw Latika.

I was eight, now I'm twelve. Salim was eleven, now he's fifteen.

Once I had caught up to him I glanced at his 'supplies'. It was a box of peanuts, some balloons, and a stuffed animal. From the looks of the animal, it was not new.

"You have resorted to stealing from cribs I see." I stated looking up at him. He snarled at me.

"Shut up and grab yourself a box. You want to eat tonight right?" He stated nasty as ever. Since Maman had favored Salim he had grown bitter. I reluctantly picked up a box and headed toward a window with Salim. We had a routine, because I was lanky and thin, I would crawl through the window and then Salim would lower the boxes with a rope. I would take the box and send the rope back up. Salim would then scramble through the window and we would take out our 'uniforms' and dress in them.

Every day this happened. Salim would steal our goods at night, I preferred not to and to sleep instead.

"Ready, brother?" He called and lowered the box. I quickly got both boxes in and told him to come down. He did and then we both changed into our 'uniforms' and took off into the train, selling the junk we stole.

…

Surprisingly, the person Salim stole the stuffed animal from paid extra for it because her toddler wouldn't stop crying. That night we ate like kings. Well as close to kings as it comes on a train.

Nobody ever questioned our money. That was good too. Salim told me the story to say if they ever did once. But that was long ago and I had forgotten.

There was one thing, person really, that I could never forget. She clouded my mine each and every day, during work, dinner, sleep. I even dreamt about the girl.

Latika.

I wondered where she was, how she was doing, and I shuddered as I thought this, if she was even still alive. What had Maman and his henchmen done to her? Blind her, like that other little boy?

I closed my eyes and inhaled. I tried to rip at the seams of my heart, prying it open. Where was the beauty? I wanted to see it dammit! Where is it?

"Jamal." I snapped my eyes open to look at Salim. Standing next to him was a girl, a very pretty girl of about seventeen. "I've got us some bitches for the night with our extra money. Their fathers were practically throwing them on me." He chuckled as if this was funny. "Yours is over there." He motioned his head to the back of the train. I peered around him and spotted a girl of about thirteen with long dark hair and bright brown eyes.

Latika?

Couldn't be.

Might be.

It's not.

I sighed and walked over to her.

"Look," she looked up at me, terrified. "I'm not going to sleep with you. Do not worry. What is your name?" I asked as I sat beside her.

"Neelima."

"That's a nice name. Neelima, where are you from?"

"No where important, just a small village…" she trailed off looking down at her hands.

"Listen, did you know a girl named, Latika?" I asked hopeful. There was no way she possibly could.

She shook her head, looking sad. "I am sorry. Was she your lover?" She asked, interested.

"No, just a friend. Are you hungry?" I asked. She nodded fervently. I pulled a roll out of my pocket and handed it to her. "Here."

She took it and then threw her skinny arms around my neck. "Thank you… Um…?"

"Jamal." I supplied

"Thank you Jamal." She ate and we talked aimlessly. After knowing that she indeed did not know Latika, I had grown bored. I listened to her hardships and about her family. She had an older brother and a younger sister. Her father regularly sold them off for money and her mother was dead. Her sister was only eight and was no longer a virgin. It was terrible.

"I should go Neelima. I'll see you again?" I said, standing.

"Where are you getting off?" She asked eager.

"I'm not. I live on the train with my brother, Salim." I stated, shoving my hands in my pockets.

"Oh." She then stood up beside me and wrapped her arms around my neck and then kissed me. I was taken back. I closed my eyes and imagined seeing Latika again. Just seeing her would be wonderful.

…

That night I lost my virginity to Neelima. I cannot say it wasn't worth it. She could kiss amazingly. The only thing was every time I closed my eyes I saw Latika. I couldn't toss her from my head. Even picturing Neelima wouldn't do it.

Little Latika.

…

Not once did I forget. Not once.

A/N: Ug. I hope the timing was accurate... Sorry for all the virginity talk. Won't happen much after the time Salim rapes Latika.

Thanks for reading! Please review!

-Katie