They tell me, "Normally we don't let anyone smoke at this time of the night but because it is your first night and you are having problems you can have one cigarette. Then it is right back to bed." I am so grateful. They take me to the smoke room, unlock the door and tell me, "Make it fast."

I am back down in my bed now and I am still having trouble falling asleep. Someone is still talking in their sleep and another one is snoring and I am just feeling very upset and wish that I could get some sleep. I guess that I finally fall asleep sometime early in the morning because now I am awakened to people yelling. I don't like people yelling and screaming.

I get dressed and go upstairs and make a cup of tea for myself and go to the smoke room. When I open the door to the smoke room, I think: everyone in the shelter must smoke because there are a lot of people in here. I made it through the first night and I am wondering, how many more nights of this will I have to go through? I hope not many.