Creative Writing Challenge - Task #4 - Silver Linings

Hii, this is my entry for task #4 for the creative writing challenge sponsored by @steemfluencer. If you want to know more about it click here.

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The girl was covered in grime and tattered clothes. You could smell her before you even saw the girl. She was fifteen years old with black hair and grey eyes filled with pain and hunger; while begging on the street a lady gave her a lottery ticket and she barely held down her scoff. Why would a lottery ticket help her?

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The woman watched with pity the poor girl. Her family had money so she never knew what poverty or barely scraping by meant. Long and luscious red hair with icy blue eyes got her the little that money couldn't. She had no spare change so she gave her a lottery ticket she bought earlier. Maybe it would help her or maybe it wouldn't.

A week later the lottery took place, the girl, whose name was Samantha, happened to watch it from the television in the shop window in front of her. As each number was told her astonishment grew, those were the numbers in the lottery ticket. Sixteen was the last one and it matched her ticket. Sam had just won one million dollars.

That same day the red beauty was told she went into bankruptcy. Her husband laundered money and was sent to prison, she lost everything she had; the house, car and even her clothes. Brokenhearted she went to live with her parents, whom realizing how shallow and money-dependent her daughter had become refused to give her more than food and a roof. The lady, Vivienne, had two months to get back on her feet before she would be thrown out.

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The raven haired girl knew she had to spend her money smartly. First came her family, they needed food and a place to live. After buying a small apartment for the four of them, some clothes and enough food for two weeks she still had 400.000 dollars left. She and her sister enrolled in school and her parents went to night classes to finish as well. Soon her mom and dad found some decent paying jobs, nothing fancy. Sam and her big sister found part-time jobs to help too. Having too much money left and knowing how awful and painful was to be hungry she founded a shelter for the homeless. It was a project that not only gave food and shelter but they educated and found jobs for the people. Of course many people took advantage of that but just as many were helped and their lives were changed.

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For the first month and a half Vivienne spent all the money she earned on clothes and makeup; going out to fancy restaurants and expensive trips with her friends. She spent every penny she earned on maintaining her social status and save face. Two weeks before her two months were up her parents reminded her that she must leave because they raised her better than that. She shrugged them off, thinking they would never throw her out; but they did and she had nowhere to go. At first she stayed with some of her "friends" but they all left her at the end. Her mood got so foul she was fired and then she was truly desperate. Even hungry and begging on the street she still used what little people gave her on her appearance until she was skin and bones.

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One day, once their roles were reversed they found each other. Vivienne was beaten down and on the door of death and Samantha was a successful woman coming from work, both were so different that neither of them recognized each other. But Sam gave her something better than the lottery ticket that Vivienne gifted her. She took Vivienne to her shelter and gave her food and a job. Vivienne had finally learned her lesson and became a better person and a smarter spender, she would never be reduced to beg again.

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