Kaden wrapped the blanked tightly around her frail shoulders. A new shipment had come in. She took advantage. They told her it would be hard,  but she never truly imagined how hard.

    This was her third month outside Moseley's Cafe. Her guitar sat in front of her. Case open. Waiting.

    A total of $3.16, two gum wrappers, a lollipop (grape, her least favorite), and twelve assorted guitar pics lay scattered in her case. Three of them were hers, but the rest were gifts from passers. There were a lot of musicians in New York City.

    Kaden gathered the pics in her hands. She could remember a few of the faces who carelessly dropped them like they had a million more. But there was one who stood out. The one who actually stopped and talked, and placed it in her hand.

    **"If you asked me now how I felt, would you want an honest answer or would you like your heart to melt?" Kaden's haunting voice echoed through the busy streets while she strummed wildly on the guitar. She was so lost in her own music that she didn't notice the caring eyes that watched over her.

    She stopped mid sentence and stared at the worn strings. She tried various chords but nothing made the sound she desired to hear.

    "Try a G minor. It should fit with the previous chord."

    Without even looking up, she strummed the chord and smiled as it locked in with the rest of the song.

    Kaden looked up gratefully at the stranger. "Thank you. I could have been at that all night."

    He smiled and gestured for himself to sit down. She quickly nodded and made some room for him on the woven blanket.

    "How long have you been playing?"

    The man looked straight into her eyes, then smiled. "About seven years now."

    Kaden gawked at him then shook her head. "Wow, you started young. I can tell you're very passionate about it, though... You sing too, don't you?"

    His smile seemed to grow by the second. "Yeah, music is my life. Every aspect of it. You?"

    Kaden smiled and strummed a soft chord. "Yeah... my love got me in trouble though."

    "That's... that's why you're here, isn't it?"

    She smiled sadly. "Yes. I was convinced I could make it on my own. My parents.. my friends.. they had little or no faith in me. So, I decided to leave. I've been here ever since."

    "Where do you sleep... or eat? Aren't you scared to be here by yourself?"

    Kaden smiled and tucked the hair behind her ear. "I get by. I've made good friends inside the cafe that let me stay once in a while. I usually make enough money to get something decent to eat. And things get scary from time to time, but I can deal with it."

    The man shook his head and placed his hand over hers. "Look, I'm going to be in New York for the next three days. Why don't you stay with me? I can sneak you into the hotel and you can eat some... semi-real food."

    Kaden laughed lightly and patted his hand. Momentarily relishing the warmth it produced. "I appreciate it. Really. But I can't. I'm not exactly a charity girl. I feel bad enough taking a few cents from people... and besides I don't know you, and you don't know me."

    He stuck his free hand out to hers. "Hi, my name is Isaac. I am 19. I'm from Tulsa, Oklahoma. I love music and I don't like seeing new-found friends suffering. And as for the charity thing. Its not. You'll repay me."

    She stared at him, somewhat amused. "But I don't have any money."

    He smiled coyly. "I didn't say with money... You can repay me with your music."

    Kaden's features softened and she accepted his hand. "Hi, my name is Kaden. I am 18. I'm from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I too, love music." She smiled warmly at him. "And I love meeting new people."

    Isaac smiled back. "Come on, let's get out of here." He helped her pack up her few belongings, and they walked slowly to the hotel. Neither Kaden nor Isaac knew how they would affect each others lives.

*a song to sing lyrics ã Hanson, 2000
**ask again lyrics ã aj hess, 2000