Broken but not Forgotten

Fixing the Broken

Shieun's father stood outside the doorway of the hospital room, peering through the window panel. He watched as the larger, more athletic, and energetic boy coaxes his son into joining him in bed to sleep. 

Previously, evidently exhausted from the experiences he'd been through recently, he had fallen asleep while visiting Sooho. His upper body had been slumped over the hospital bed, and his arm extended to hold Sooho's hand while he slept. When Sooho woke up, he must have been concerned about his sleeping position, hence the bullying to get him on the bed. 

Shieun blinked sleepily at Sooho as he was awakened, "What?" 

"Get on the bed, you are making me feel uncomfortable just looking at you." 

"What?" Shieun's sleepiness has left him confused and dazed.

"Would you stop whating me? Get on the bed, so you can get some decent sleep. Stop being a weirdo." Sooho retorts as he pulls and yanks on him.

Shieun gives Sooho a soft smirk, before muttering, "Who is talking?" While he carefully climbs on the bed, mindful of Sooho's tubes, and lays down next to the bigger boy. One hand was placed on Sooho chest, as if to ensure that he was breathing. 

Shieun's father sighed heavily. He was sure that many people would say that he wasn't handling this properly. He wasn't able to find fault with anything Shieun had done, though. All the faults were laid at the feet of him and Shieun's mother, they had broken him. Even though they weren't the worst parents, they had hurt the boy enough that he was just going through the motions and not living. When he received the call from the police and finally found his son, he and his ex-wife simply stared at their normally composed son, crying silent tears, refusing to be dragged from the bigger boy's side. Their son had found a reason to live, someone he was willing to fight for and someone he was willing to die for. Most importantly, someone to live for. 

Pushing the hospital door open, he steps into the room. Sooho was progressing better than anticipated; however, he still had a lengthy road to recovery to traverse. For Shieun's part, while he wouldn't be going to the detention center, the only school that would accept him might as well be one. Both of them will have a difficult journey ahead of them, and he wouldn't contribute to making it harder for them. He would no longer be another obstacle in his son's way. 

He was greeted by a cheeky, "Hey Dad" from Sooho as he walked in. If his son were to be with a male, then at least it was Sooho. He discovered that he had a strong affinity towards the young man. Sooho's mouth never ceased to move, whether he was speaking or stuffed with food. At first glance, you would think that Sooho and his son were not alike, but upon further inspection, he found a respectful and responsible kid much like his son. Furthermore, he had taught his son to feel. 

He pats Sooho's foot gently. "I have spoken with your grandmother, and she has agreed to let you come and live with Shieun."