The Boy Made of Stars and the One Who Counted Them

Dreams

Bokuto has always felt real. He woke up everyday to live a normal life in his small world but, there was something that always clawed away at his reality. Something deeper than the prospect of living and breathing. Something that wasn't artificial yet, wasn't ruined by the cruelness of life yet.

That something was the quiet brown-haired boy he saw in his dreams.

The one who made him laugh, with deep blue eyes and a small smile that only appeared when Bokuto was around.

Even though he preferred his dreams, Bokuto loved living. He loved watching sunsets and counting stars until he fell asleep. He loved hearing the pitter patter of rain and the crunch of leaves during fall. He loved the world and the realness of it.

But he hated the world for not including the one thing he loved.

The quiet brown-haired boy he saw in his dreams.

The most interesting part of this boy's appearance was that Bokuto was sure he had seen him before.

Even though his memories of childhood were spotty, the little boy with the same piercing blue eyes, was an avid memory he kept close to his heart. He was more than certain that the boy in his dreams was the same one from a small interaction he had when he was younger.

Bokuto was unfortunately sick when he was a child. His heart was enlarged which made it hard to breathe and pump blood for him to grow. It's this symptomless disease called "Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy." He was lucky enough to be able to get an implant device to regulate his heart size and how much blood it pumps. Before he went into surgery he was sitting in the waiting room, the small colorful waiting room, where he met the boy who visited his dreams every night.

Bokuto sat with tears welling up his eyes at the idea of surgery. His mother was arguing with some of the nurses to have him treated immediately. Before he realized someone was next to him, the boy poked his arm.

"Hi. I like your stuffed animal!" The boy pointed at the small stuffed bear Bokuto took everywhere. Bokuto wiped his tears and faced the stranger.

"Thanks, his name is Henry." Bokuto said while glassily staring into the other boys blue eyes. "You can hold him if you want?" Bokuto handed Henry to the boy who immediately hugged it tight to his skinny body.

"Thank you! He's so soft. What's your name?" The boy giddily looked towards Bokuto and made the bear dance in front of the two causing them to laugh out loud.

"I'm Koutarou Bokuto, what's your na-"

"Bokuto, we have to go sweetie come on, it's time." Bokuto's mom came over and grabbed his wrist, pulling him into her arms. Bokuto silently watched the boy from his mother's arms as she started to walk away.

"You can keep Henry! Take good care of him ok? I'll see you when I come out."

Bokuto started to cry again not only at the prospect of surgery but also because that boy was alone, not a parent or family member in sight. He was too young to be alone, he deserved Henry more.

Before they left the blue eyed boy held Henry tight and looked at Bokuto.

"You'll be ok, don't cry, I'm always with you." The boy said before he disappeared from sight by the doctors and nurses who were placing Bokuto on a gurney.

When he returned to the waiting room after his operation, the boy was gone and Henry was with him.

Wherever he was, at least he wasn't alone