Snow fell over the city.
It touched the upper districts first, then took its time reaching the lower ones.
People moved through the market wrapped in thick coats.
Others couldn't afford even that—nothing to keep the cold away.
In an alley where the snow fell freely, piling thicker by the minute,
a small movement broke the white shape.
Beneath it, Athan's closed eyes were revealed.
"Oh…"
"I fell asleep."
The snow had covered him again while he slept.
He should be careful—people might start throwing trash at him, thinking he was nothing more than a pile of snow.
Athan stood up, shaking off the snow packed around his body along with bits of garbage trapped inside it. He stretched like a cat, arms reaching high, standing on his toes until a crack in his back made him stop.
"Good.
I think I'm ready."
He walked toward the exit of the alley, leaving behind the narrow passage choked with trash.
The moment he stepped out, he was greeted by stares—merchants and passersby alike.
Crowded streets, makeshift stalls, a clouded sky endlessly shedding snow.
He ignored them and walked on with confidence, even though he couldn't see what lay ahead.
As usual, he began counting his steps from where he stood to the bakery.
"One, two, three, four…"
He stopped at twenty-three.
Right at the bakery door.
"Hello!"
He greeted the shopkeeper with a hollow cheer, as if mimicking the way happy people greeted acquaintances.
The shopkeeper frowned—Athan again.
Then disgust twisted his face as the smell reached him.
"Ugh! That's disgusting—why do you smell like garbage?!"
Athan's shoulders lifted slightly.
"Ah…
I slept in an alley."
"THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU CLEAN YOURSELF BEFORE COMING IN?!"
"I didn't think it was necessary."
Unintimidated by the raised voice, Athan walked straight to the counter and lifted his hand as if expecting something.
The shopkeeper clicked his tongue and shoved a warm piece of bread into Athan's palm.
Athan smiled emptily, turned around—and didn't forget to thank him.
"Thank you very much, angry sir!"
The shopkeeper frowned again but said nothing.
He let Athan go.
Outside, Athan bit into the bread and let the snow fall onto his nose, enjoying the cold sensation.
Then he started walking back toward the alley, counting his steps once more.
"One, two, three, four…"
He kept counting until—
"Twenty-three… twenty-four?"
His voice shifted, puzzled.
"I think my steps just weren't the same length this time.
That must be it."
As he entered the alley, he took another bite of bread, remembering the smells inside the bakery.
Cinnamon. Sugar. Chocolate.
And meat.
The memory made his stomach growl as he bit into the now-cold bread.
"Meat…
If I ask for coins, maybe I could buy one of those meat breads.
How much would it cost?
Five yennys?
Maybe more…"
Snow continued to settle over his body as he finished the plain bread.
"Alright!
My new wish is a meat bread!"
His voice echoed through the alley. Windows nearby slammed shut.
Athan kept thinking about meat—along with two pieces of bread.
"Two breads might be too expensive…
What if I just get the meat and one bread?
I could split it in half and put the meat between them."
"I'll call it…"
His face brightened as he raised a finger toward the sky.
"Athan's Delicious Bread!"
A thin line of saliva formed at the corner of his mouth as he imagined the taste.
At the same time, a feeling settled in—desire, focused entirely on that bread.
He sat back down in the thick snow, settling beside a trash bin.
"I should think about how to get money…"