Growing Apart, Yet Together
After weeks of searching and countless rejections, Caleb finally landed a job at a small gaming company in town. It was a modest position, but for Caleb, it felt like a dream. He had always been good at gaming and development, often sketching out ideas and tinkering with concepts in his free time. The company had been impressed with his creativity and determination, hiring him as a junior assistant for their development team.
The job was demanding, especially since Caleb still had to attend school during the day. His routine quickly became a grueling cycle of classes, rushing to the gaming studio in the late afternoon, and working long hours before heading back to the orphanage late at night. Despite the exhaustion, Caleb was grateful for the opportunity. It wasn't just about the money or the experience; it was about proving to himself—and to Preston—that he was capable of building a future.
But with this new chapter came unintended consequences.
Every night when Caleb returned to the orphanage, no matter how late, Preston was always there waiting for him. The younger boy would sit by the entrance steps, wrapped in his small blanket, his wide blue eyes lighting up the moment Caleb came into view.
"Preston," Caleb would sigh, his voice filled with both affection and frustration. "You don't have to wait for me like this every day. You'll get sick, and that will really hurt me."
Preston would shake his head stubbornly, his curls bouncing. "I can't sleep knowing you're not back. I just… I can't."
His voice would waver with quiet determination, and Caleb's heart would ache every time. No matter how tired he was, he couldn't bring himself to scold Preston. Instead, he'd smile softly, ruffling the boy's hair. "Alright, Pee. But don't make this a habit, okay?"
Preston would nod, though Caleb knew he wouldn't listen. He'd then hop to his feet and take Caleb's hand, leading him inside. "I saved some food for you," Preston would say with pride. "Go shower while I heat it up."
Those small gestures, the way Preston cared for him in his own way, always filled Caleb with a bittersweet warmth. He loved how much Preston cared, but he couldn't ignore the growing worry gnawing at him. Preston was still so dependent on him, and Caleb's late nights at work only seemed to make it worse.
One night, after a particularly exhausting day, Caleb arrived home to find Preston dozing off on the steps, his blanket pulled tightly around him. The sight broke Caleb's heart. Kneeling down, he gently shook Preston awake. The boy stirred, blinking sleepily before breaking into a drowsy smile.
"You're back," Preston murmured, his voice thick with sleep.
"Yeah, I'm back," Caleb said softly, scooping him up into his arms despite Preston's sleepy protests. "You shouldn't be out here like this, Pee. It's cold."
Preston rested his head against Caleb's shoulder, his small arms wrapping around his neck. "I was waiting for you."
Caleb carried him inside, setting him down gently on one of the couches in the common room. He knelt beside him, brushing a strand of blonde hair from Preston's face. "Preston, you've got to stop doing this. I don't want you getting sick because of me."
Preston's eyes welled up with tears, and Caleb immediately regretted his words. "I'm sorry, Cay," Preston whispered. "I just miss you. It's like… you're always gone now."
Caleb felt a lump rise in his throat. He reached out, pulling Preston into a hug. "I'm not gone, Pee. I'm just busy. I'm doing this for us—for our future. You understand that, right?"
Preston nodded against his chest, but his silence spoke volumes.