Chapter 38 - I Am Here

POV

Young Boy:

She was actually here. I cannot believe it. I thought that she would leave me and never come back, just like the others. "I told you that I would always come." She smiled gently while looking down at me, and carefully stroked my hair. I leaned into her gentle caress. For the first time I felt safe. I laid on her soft body yearning for the gentle touch of another person. One that wouldn't hurt me like he had. I don't feel as lonely anymore.

She looked over to a nurse.

"Give me his diagnosis, please." She said. The nurse shifted his weight onto his left leg and looked over at her afraid.

"He is very underweight due to malnutrition and his *ahem* previous living conditions. His growth is stunted at the moment as well. There is damage to his vocal cords not only from the collar and strangulation , but from him having a panic attack. He ended up ripping out his feeding tube during the panic attack, and we had to forcefully sedate him." He paused for a moment to look back over his chart. He looked over at me with pity.

"Can we continue the rest of this outside?" She began to stand up, but I tried to pull her back. I stared up at her with fear; my eyes began to tremble with tears. I was pleading, no begging her to stay with me. She sat back down on the edge of the bed. She shook her head at him.

He then said,"You might want to cover his ears for the next part then ma'am."

She looked back at him nodding in understanding. I felt two petite hand cover my ears.

All I could hear was mumbling. I could only make out a few words. "FORCEFULLY, ALONE, NO RECORD, DAMAGED, and NO FAMILY.

Family? I've never had that. At least I don't think; I've always been alone. Confusion painted my face. She looked back down at me with a understanding so deep that it hurt. What would make her look like that? I don't understand. Why does she look so sad. My gaze locked with her grey eyes. She turned her back to the man. Her soft hands slid down my ears and something warm fell on my face.

"Hold on, I'm going to make a call real quick." She reaches into her pocket and a small rectangular box came out. She tapped on it and it lit up in a blueish hue. An almost blank paged popped up. The only thing There was a letter that I could not read. She pressed on it and it began to ring. After a few rings a woman's voice sounded out from it.

Ahhh so it's one of those boxes that the rich people talked into. Then the lady with me began speaking in a language I had never heard before. It sounds really pretty. I watched her face the whole time. Occasionally she would smile or scowl. It looked like she got good news in the end because her eyes lit up like the stars.

After a few minutes she looked back at me. *In Italian*

You can stay with me. How does that sound?" I smiled and tried to shake my head. I thought to myself that I never want to leave you, so please let me stay with you forever. She patted my head in an affectionate manner. My eyelids began to droop down, and the darkness greeted me. This time I was not scared because now I have you.

POV

NYM:

So he feel asleep just like that. I smiled and looked down at his alabaster skin. I brushed some of the white hair from off his face. I'll have to order some things off line and have it shipped to my office. Since there is a good chance that he will never speak again I'll have to teach him sign language, wait a minute can he even read? I can figure out the living arrangements at least. Let's see, I have the spare room upstairs. That can be his; I'll need a bed, a dresser, lamps, toys, and what else.

Maybe I'll ask Koi what young boys like? Yeah, that should work. I surfed online websites to buy stuff for a child. I also emailed Koi and received a barrage of responses. Oh my gods does this man ever stop talking? I laughed at his antics. Well that's Koi for you. I smiled warmly thinking about how much he has looked out for me and Cami. They are probably my best friends.... well I have to add Charlotte and Emimile. Emi is more of a sister though.

I wonder if Charlotte knew who I really was, would she still be so warm towards me? I really don't know, but at least I have you now little one. You will stay with me and we will protect each other.