Bryan was only five years old when he went to the circus for the first time with his family, which consisted of his three older sisters and his parents. He had loved it, and he especially loved getting to eat some candy.
He had found himself entranced by the acrobats, following every movement carefully. It was mesmerizing to him, and he wanted so badly to dance like them. When the show was over, he talked about this desire to his family.
He had never been oblivious to their looks of disgust and hatred to him. He knew his family didn't like him, they thought he was weird and troubled. He knew this, but he never talked about it.
"Bryan, why don’t you go get some more candy? We’ll wait right here, okay?" Bryan's mother said, the disgust and hatred ever apparent as she handed him a few dollars.
"Okay mommy! Be back soon!" Bryan said, skipping off to buy some candy quickly. Maybe his family didn't like him, but he still loved them. Besides, they treated him well enough even if they often called him a freak.
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Bryan sat on the ground as the circus began to close and pack up for the night, nibbling at what was left of the lollipop he bought. They had left him there. They left their freak boy at the circus.
He should have guessed that they would. They were being nicer than usual, he should have been suspicious. Where would he go now? He couldn't go home, they would just leave him somewhere else.
"Excuse me, where are your parents, little one?" Bryan heard someone say. He looked up to see one of the performers crouching down towards him.
"They left me here… they didn't want me anymore. They think I'm a freak." Bryan said, looking down again. He felt the performer pet his hair slightly, comforting the small boy.
"Well then it's good you're here. Everyone sees us as freaks here, so you'll fit right in! We can even be your new family!" The performer said. Bryan looked up with a smile, his eyes shining.
"Really?" Bryan asked, the performer nodding enthusiastically with a big smile. "Promise you'll love me, like a real family?"
"Of course small one! And you'll be the happiest boy in the whole world!" They responded, helping Bryan up. The two then began walking hand in hand to the tent where everything was being packed up.
Bryan smiled. Maybe his parents and sisters didn't love him, and maybe they did abandon him, but here he could be happy. Here he could love and be loved freely.
(Special thanks to GlitchyEx3 for helping me flesh out this story. Go check them out!)
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A Performer's Tale
FanficA traveling circus is something many know of, even if not many experience it. But one travel circus is known well throughout many towns as a beautiful show that sells tickets for cheap. What no one has noticed, or if they have noticed they have not...
