He was a little boy trying very hard not to be.He was a little boy trying very hard not to be. "'s okay," he murmured. "Is there anything I can do, Raf?" I said gently. The boy shrugged then looked away. "If you wanna go it's okay." he whispered. "I'll be okay. Thank's for helping me mister. Thank's for the ride too. I hope I didn't mess up your car." I smiled and then I leaned forward and lovingly caressed his hair. It was soft and silky under my fingers. "I'm not going to leave. I'm staying here right next to you until you walk out of here or we find you parents." "I don't have no parents," the boy said quietly. "I don't have no one." "Anyone," I automatically corrected him. "Where are you from?" I asked. The boy was quiet for a long while. "Did you run away? Is that why you're alone?" The boy looked up at me and then back to his feet. "I kinda ran away," he said at last. "I live in a home for boys." He looked back at me. I could feel his dark eyes searching mine as he tried to decide whether he could trust me. I continued to stroke his soft fine hair. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want," I said. The boy swallowed and then compressed his lips together firmly, resolutely. "I'd like you to trust me," I continued. "But I know it's hard. Sometimes it really helps to talk about the things that bother us." "Centerville. Its an orphanage outside Miami." he whispered. I nodded. "Is that where you're from? How did you get here? Where I found you." "Uh... I sorta got into trouble. Not at Centerville. I was trying to get back there and some guys picked me up. They're going to kill me." I looked at the boy in surprise. "Yes. That's what you said in the car. I think you have to tell me more. It isn't that I don't believe you. I do! Why are they trying to kill you?" "I seen Luis,..... kill someone.... A little girl." The boy looked at me and I could see the fear in his small face. |