Sunshine Always Follows Rain

TommyInnit the Great

HELLO!! I was originally going to post this on Ao3, but I'm a bit nervous since its gonna be a first post. SO,,,,, I'm posting this here to like see if it'll do ok

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Tommy starts his day with a burst of energy. He made his bed in 29 seconds! New record!

Tommy fist pumps before quickly getting out of his pajamas.

There really wasn't much to do in the orphanage, and he was planning on running away today, so might as well make the best of everything. Right now, little 5 year old Tommy was 'speedrunning' his chores.

He slips on his velcro shoes, making sure they're put on right so the shoe doesn't slip off easily. The last time he didn't put them on correctly, it slipped off and he got a splinter from stepping on the tattered wooden floor.

His orphanage, which he was dropped off into after his parents... got tired of him, wasn't the best in looks. And staff. And basically everything.

The orphanage was actually a well known orphanage, but the owner and staff hog all the donations, using only a measly bit to buy food. Tommy wasn't as chubby like the first day he got here, AND HE WAS SKINNY BEFORE!

They also used how old and broken down the orphanage is as a way to get people to pity the orphans—Tommy is surprised nobody realized why the orphanage isn't being renovated, even when people donate thousands upon thousands of dollars.

The only reason he hadn't left earlier was because he deemed himself too young and because he had 2 people to stay for.

Mr. Sammy and Drista. Drista was his best friend, and Mr. Sammy was the only caretaker that actually did care for everyone. He was the whole orphanage's favorite caretaker.

But now that he's at the prime age of 5, he feels older than ever! He can leave, buy a house (He's been saving—he's got 10 pennies! It'll be enough, right?) and live there with Mr. Sammy and Drista! He's being so responsible right now, someone pat his back.

He awkwardly bends his arm to pat his own back.

He opens the door carefully, and sneaks to the kitchen. It was small and dirty, riddled with stains, rats and cockroaches. He just needs to find good food, so he can survive. He goes to the storage room behind the counter, to find a loaf of sliced bread.

"This'll do!" Tommy smiles, plopping it inside the makeshift bag he made with blankets—he kept 'losing' blankets, and tied them together to make it—and walked away, making sure to shut the door as quietly as possible. He tiptoed back to his room, shutting the door and quickly hiding his bag under a loose floorboard. He doesn't want Lady Gretchel to find it and scream at him again.

He goes back to bed, pretending to sleep until it's time for roll call. They had it every day to make sure a child isn't missing; the orphanage already is kind of infamous for the amount of runaways from here. During roll call, caretakers search your room for any signs of escape, and if they do find evidence, they lock you in the basement until you beg on your knees, cry and apologise.

One of the kids was locked down there way before Tommy was even here, and everyone else says he's never come out.

He just can't wait to run away from this horrid place. He thought Mum and Dad loved him. (Not anymore) Why did they leave him in such a terrible orphanage? (You know the answer, Tommy.)

"Tommy!"

"Y-yes Lady Gretchel!" Tommy stood up straight, sweating bullets as cataracts stared into his deep blue eyes.

She huffed, continuing to the next person.

"Tommy, you really should pay attention! I don't want you to end up in the basement!" Drista whisper-shouted at him, in which Tommy replied with a nervous grin.

Drista rolls her eyes. "Anyways, have you heard? I'm being adopted soon! Maybe, I can convince them to bring you with me! I'll never leave without you, you know,"

Tommy didn't like that Drista had to leave. And as much as he would want to come with, he knows he'll ruin her chances again. A lot of couples and families wanted to adopt her, but refused because Drista wanted Tommy to come, too.

"You don't have to bring me," Tommy argued.

"But... Mr. and Mrs. Taken are really nice! And we'll have a big brother, Dream! They'll surely accept you," Drista explains.

"I don't want to ruin your chance to be adopted again," Tommy reasons. "Besides, I'm escaping today, I'll be fine!"

"Today?!"

"Drista, shut up!" Lady Gretchel snapped.

"Sorry, Lady Gretchel..." Drista lowered her head in fear.

"Someone 'oughta teach you brats manners," She rolled her eyes before continuing counting the children.

"You didn't tell me you were leaving today," Drista pouts, holding Tommy's hand tightly as if it would stop him from leaving. "What if it's dangerous outside? You don't have any mommies or daddies to protect you from monsters."

"I don't need mommies and daddies! I can survive by myself," Tommy says. "You know me, the bravest boy to ever exist in the world."

Drista smiles slightly. "Yeah. You are brave. You'll have to promise to write me letters and visit, okay?"

"Of course!"

That very same night, Tommy had snuck out an open window. With only his heart to follow, he headed north and hoped for the best.

The chill air blew softly on Tommy's face, reminding him of the same day that he was left in the orphanage. He was told he could never come back, and that they were sorry—but the expressions plastered on their faces read that a burden was lifted from their backs.

Little feet were exhausted as he walked down the empty path, jumping at the slightest of sounds. He opened his bag and took out a slice of bread, chewing slowly as he kept looking around warily. Maybe he should've waited till morning. He can go back, he probably remembers the path—

He turns around, unable to recognise the place he was in. Fear hit him and almost anything he saw scared him; shadows were stalking him, awkward branches were monsters, and every little sound was someone creeping up on him.

The boy ran.

Ran as far as his tired legs could carry him—the sound of pebbles and dirt crunching under his feet as loud as the inside voice telling him to sprint as far as he could.

He reached a station. With gray smoke and people coming in and out of trains fast, you would have thought it was still midday because of the amount of people in the station.

Tommy pushed through the crowd. Maybe he could slip into a train and go somewhere else!

So he did. He went to the very front, where he was met with tracks. He could already hear the train coming closer, This is it! A brand new life somewhere far away, where he can start anew.

But a man bumped into him, making him fall into the tracks.

His knees met the rocky asphalt. Yikes, that'll bruise. But that wasn't the first thing on Tommy's mind. In fact, it wasn't on the list of priorities at all. His first priority and only priority is to get out of the train tracks.

He could already hear the squealing of the train as it tried to slow down fast enough.

He wanted to go back.

He desperately wished to live.

All he did was cover his ears as he braced for the hit.