Urban Playground

A security officer roamed the hallway of the hospital, and occasionaly a blue uniformed city police officer walked by, courtsey of officer Tardy.
Carson sat on the double seated bench beside Darla where they waited. The clock ticked on. The night sky, cloaked with neon light hid the emerging stars. Nocturnal creatures crawled out of their hining places and stalked their prey. Rodents scurried from hole to hole, while moths winged their way toward the light.
He listened for things that go bump in the night. He had lived on the streets long enough to recognize danger that lurked beyond the darkness. There were night terrors out there in physical bodies. They were a threat to the homeless as well as God's little ones. This time someone picked the wrong girl to mess with.
Darla needed someone to lean on. Chilled and shivering, she scooted closer to Carson, gleaning a little warmth. He smelled good. Darla breathed in the masculine scent of him. She could smell spring before the snow melted, flowers before the petals unfolded.
They sat quietly, contentedly, unmoving long enough for the overhead light to automaticaly dim. Darla looked up at Carson. He was not the homeless man she had first thought him to be. He even smelled civilized. His face was close.
When his lips brushed hers she turned away. She moved from him the way someone who was dieting turned away from a piece of triple layer chocolate cake; slowly and with longing still in her eyes.