OU week 1 character profile

Original character profile

The girl at the bus stop was young, very young, perhaps no more than fifteen or sixteen. Dressed almost entirely in black, she pulled a grey scarf tightly around her in an effort to keep out the chill wind. Her boots - brown suede, and almost new - were a size too big for her, she was wearing her least favourite pair of glasses and in her rush to get away she'd forgotten her hairbrush, instead raking her fingers through her thick brown hair as she tried to tame it into place. Anxiously she clutched at the pouch containing the sleeping bag she'd just bought from a camping shop; it was meant to be warm enough for every season but she wasn't so sure. As she waited for the bus that would take her to who-knows-where, she chewed the inside of her cheek nervously and cast her gaze down towards the paving slabs. She didn't want anyone to spot her or try to dissuade her from going. Leaving probably wasn't a good decision, but for now it was the only decision she could make.

Extended character profile

I watched the girl as she sat at the bus stop. She was young, very young, perhaps no more than fifteen or sixteen, and looked so innocent, so vulnerable. Her geeky glasses and pale skin, free of makeup, only added to the impression. No rings on her fingers - no jewellery at all, I realised. Good - maybe there wouldn't be an angry boyfriend coming after this one. Dressed almost entirely in black, the grey scarf she pulled tightly around her would do little to protect her. She'd obviously left in a rush. The brown suede boots on her feet - almost new, I noticed with glee - looked a size too big for her, and she'd raked her fingers through her thick brown hair in a vain effort to tame it. On her lap she clutched anxiously at a sleeping bag she'd obviously just bought. I recognised the brand: "One Season", they call them; they claim to be warm enough for winter but that was a lie. The girl held her gaze firmly on the paving slabs. She was probably worried someone would spot her and try to take her back. I moved closer and noticed she was chewing the inside of her cheek nervously. She wouldn't last five minutes out here. Not without some help, anyway. And I knew just the person.