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 "Fearful child, have faith in brighter days

Stay home 'til this darkness fades away
Lie still beside me
I'll hold you now, I'll hold you forever"  -Keane  

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After they ate and cleaned up, they went back upstairs to look for a smaller pair of jeans.  Yoongi kept stealing glances at the sweet girl.  He was distrustful of other people, it was no wonder with all the bad experiences he had had in his life.  

How could someone be so trusting and naive?  She shouldn't welcome a stranger into her house but how could he tell her that when she was being so kind and he needed her help.  There was no reason to refuse her help, after all, he wasn't going to hurt her.  While they searched in her brother's messy room.  Yoongi picked up a PlayStation from the floor and put it on the desk.  

"I had one of these," he said almost to himself.

"Had?"

"I sold it." 

She nodded her head understanding his life must have been very different before he became homeless, but how did he become homeless.  She wanted to ask but thought it would be best for him to bring it up.

"I can help you clean up if you want?" 

"Look!  These skinny jeans might fit you.  They are too tight on my brother."

"Are you sure it's okay?"  He didn't want the brother to be mad and kick him out.  He needed this reprieve from being on the cold and lonely streets.

Yes, of course, they don't fit him. Oh, he's coming. Don't worry." She added when he looked panicked. "You're my friend."

"Am I?" He said clearly surprised.

"Yes," she said matter of factly.

Her brother walks in his room surprised to find them there. "Hey."

"Hey,"  Yoongi answered.  Yoongi thought he had a kind face. I hope he'll be my friend.

"Dawon, this is my friend, Yoongi.  He's going to stay with us cause he doesn't have a place to go today.  If mom asks, tell her he's our friend from school."  

"Sure," Dawon said shrugging and throwing himself on his bed curious about this stranger in his room.

"I took some of your clothes, okay?"

"I don't mind.  It's fine," he keeps looking at Yoongi making the smaller boy nervous.

"Thanks. Can he play with your PlayStation while I shower?"

"It's okay, you don't have to ...," Yoongi said.

"You are welcome to play on my Xbox too if you want,"  Dawon said smiling at the smaller boy.

"Thank you, Dawon," Yoongi says feeling relief.

After Ara came back from showering, she went into her brother's room and found them chatting and playing on the Xbox.  She sat on the bed to watch them play.  They talked casually and she learned that Yoongi lived with his halmeoni until she passed away.  He was taken to an orphanage and then a foster home.  He hated it there so he ran away.  He lived in a town far from here but he didn't explain how he got here.

She looked at her brother, and with pleading eyes, asked him if Yoongi could sleep over in his room.

"There's no room.  Unless you want to sleep in my chair."

"What about the couch downstairs?"  Yoongi asked.

"That's where my mom sleeps."

"That's okay". Yoongi shrugged, "I'll just go.  I'm used to it."

Ara thought it was crazy to sleep in a chair and even worse outside.  "I'll find a spot for you."

She went into her room and moved some things around.  Her room was very small too.  Their house had two small rooms, one for each, and a tiny living room and kitchen. She took the bins out of her closet and stacked them up like a tower in the corner. With some blankets and pillows, she made him a bed on the floor of the tiny closet.  She stood back to admire her work finally satisfied with the makeshift bed under her clothes.  

Ara was determined to help the homeless boy and would ask her mom if he could stay.  Her mom worked late at a restaurant so it would have to wait till tomorrow.  Her mom had a huge heart and wouldn't turn him away, of this she was sure.

Yoongi smiled when he saw it.  "This is nice. Thank you, Ara."  He got into the makeshift bed and covered himself with the blankets sharing the cozy space with Ara's little black cat that had made himself comfortable next to him.  Yoongi welcomed the warmth of the kitty adding to his comfort.  He wished the kitty would sit on his icicle toes instead a sudden shudder overtaking his thin body.  He imagined how horrible it would be to spend the night outside on this cold night.  Praise the heavens for this kind girl and her warm little cat. 

"Goodnight, roomie."

"Goodnight, Ara."

Ara sat on her bed trying to read but the letters on the page blurred as she thought about him.  She couldn't help thinking about the painful parts he left out. She finally gave up and turned off the light quickly falling asleep. 

She woke up to what sounded like someone crying and thrashing about.  She quickly went to quiet him before he woke up her mom.  She tried to shake him awake but he just cried out more so she covered his mouth.  His eyes shot open when he felt her hand on his lips. The tear marks on his cheeks were sad to see.  What else had happened to him?

"You're safe, Yoongi, everything is going to be okay," Ara said.  She padded his back as Yoongi took deep breaths to calm himself.  

He nodded and whispered, "I'm sorry. I have nightmares sometimes."

"Would you like some warm milk so you can sleep?"

"No. I'll be fine.  Just stay with me a little bit," he said shaking.

"Are you warm enough?"

"Yes."

Her heart swelled at his pitiful little face that held endless burdens. He looked so small and vulnerable she just wanted to comfort him.

"Come lay on my bed. It's more comfortable," she offered.

Like an obedient kitten coming when his mama beckons, Yoongi did as she asked.  He laid down facing the wall with his back to her making himself as small as possible.  She climbed in and put her arm around him covering them both with the blanket.  

"Goodnight kitten," she said tenderly.

"Goodnight Ara."

With her warmth near, he closed his eyes and was able to fall back to sleep without any more nightmares.

Tell me what do they call you?

Where are you running off to?

Oh, could you tell me?

I found you kept away in this garden'

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