John Laurens leaned against the cold concrete wall as he let out a soft sigh. It had been days since he had last eaten.

It seemed that, day by day, The kindness of New Yorkers started to drift away, leaving him with nothing. He hated the fact that he was almost skin and bones and smelt like rotten egg salad.

All he wanted was to be scooped up into the arms of a tall, strong man who'd love him and never toss him aside. He knew it wouldn't happen, but a boy can dream.

John had been day dreaming, he didn't notice the man infront of him till the stranger cupped his cheek.

“Hi there, precious..” The stranger smiled, rubbing the other boy's cheek with his thumb.

John tried to read his lip, but failed, as he didn't focus in time. He simply pointed to his ears and tried to speak.

“I'm deaf..” Which sounded more like, “Ah daf-”

The stranger thought for a moment before realizing what the boy had said. He pulled out a pen and paper to be able to communicate with him.

‘What's your name, Dear?’ He wrote, handing the pen to John. The stranger knew sign language, but wanted to make it a bit easier on him.

‘John.’ John wrote, than handed it back.

After asking questions and passing the paper back and forth, Alexander stood up, reaching his hand outwards to John.

John hesitantly reached up to take it.

He didn't fully trust this man but he was so desperate, it didn't matter.

And so the two headed to Alexander's house, where John would soon learn the truth about Alexander.