I smiled and ruffled his long dark hair.I smiled and ruffled his long dark hair. "Are you house trained?" I teased. The boy looked at me with confusion. I smiled again. "I'd love to have you stay with me. You're welcome to stay as long as you want. I have a spare bedroom that I can clean out and make room for you." Rafael smiled happily. "And by the looks of you I don't think you eat very much." Lying there naked in the bed, his ribs were very visible. He looked very thin and pale, though considering what he had been it was surprising that he was still alive at all. Rafael settled back in the bed and I lifted the glass to his lips again. He drank a little more and then eased back. Even drinking seemed to exhaust him. I continued to sit on the side of the bed next to him. I wanted to touch his small body, to stroke the smooth skin of his shoulder. I wanted to tell the little boy that everything would be 'okay'. I wanted him not to be scared. I wanted him to know that no matter what I would take care of him. I was very happy just knowing that the boy depended on me as much as I was on him. |