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[h3]Velvet Steele, 20[/h3]
Super Strength - Chicago, IL
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The smell of chicken and dumplings filled the small apartment, from the old green couch with stead that gave no real support, to the tiny television set atop a box of Christmas decorations about to be opened. Tiny holiday lights hung over the single window, draped lazily across to look festive, and anime posters that would probably be considered embarrassing were taped to the dull cream-colored walls.

Velvet stepped out of the tiny kitchen with a long sigh, a steaming bowl of chicken and dumplings in her hands and a towel underneath to keep her hands from burning. She shuffled over to the couch and sank into it, an old wooden board stuck beneath the cushion to keep it from collapsing. Taking out the remote from between the cushions where it always seemed to fall, Velvet turned on the television.

She regretted it.

Velvet shakily put down her bowl onto the small black table beside the couch and put her hands over her mouth. Her life wasn't great, nowhere near perfect, but at least it had been [i]hers.[/i] She sniffled and shook her head quickly, rubbing her eyes. As long as she didn't get into trouble, she was alright...

[color=00aeef]"...Right...?"[/color] She whispered into the suddenly silent, lonely apartment.