But as he reached out, the rats recoiled, baring their sharp teeth at him. One of them snapped at his hand, missing his fingers by mere inches before darting away. The others followed suit, disappearing into the shadows as quickly as they had appeared, leaving the boy alone once more.
He pulled his hand back, staring at the spot where the rats had been, his heart sinking even further. The rejection stung, even though it was just from rats. They, too, wanted nothing to do with him. The rain continued to pour, the darkness of the alley pressing in on him from all sides.
He curled up tighter, his back against the cold, damp wall, trying to make himself as small as possible. The alley offered no warmth, no comfort—just a temporary reprieve from the rain. But it was all he had, and so he stayed, his eyes closing as exhaustion and despair took hold.
