A/N: An Oliver Twist story!!! A very short oneshot, as all the plot bunnies are tiny little baby bunnies right now (spring, right?) and can't be bothered to make up any long stories.
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Even in the darkest, murkiest soil there will be a jewel
A glimmer of hope in times of sorrow
A necklace. A small diamond in a silver heart, dangling on a fine chain. It was stolen, of course, but to Nancy that didn't matter. It was a present, delicate and beautiful, draped around her thin neck in one rare moment of tenderness. Bill, her Bill had brought it back from someone's house, just for her. He lay asleep now, exhausted from a night that, like every other time he went on the job, could have ended in disaster and the gallows. Nancy had learnt to enjoy these peaceful nights while they lasted. Bill's moment of kindness would not last into the morning.
She was right, of course. Bill woke in a foul mood, demanding that Nancy go over to Fagin's so that he could get his money from last night's goods. Nancy didn't argue, she wasn't stupid, but even so, as she stepped out of the door she was suddenly pushed to the ground and kicked repeatedly. She could hear Bill swearing at her as she drifted in and out of consciousness, and then the door slamming, leaving her lying helpless in the filthy street.
Eventually, she got up, wincing at the pain that seemed to tear at her entire body. She reached up to her neck, hoping to see the only proof that Bill did love her. The necklace was gone. Nancy crouched on the ground, searching around her for any trace of a jewel, but it had long since been trodden into the mud that adorned the streets. It was gone. Wiping a tear from her eye, Nancy dusted herself off, forced a fake smile onto her face and headed off to Fagin's.
Even in the darkest, murkiest soil there will be a jewel
A glimmer of hope in times of sorrow
But then the sun goes in
And hope is lost
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A/N: My attempt at a serious story. I hope you liked it. If you really can't think of anything good about this (which may well be the case), I don't mind but I'd rather have positive reviews. =)