Milo

working it out

How was I going to explain to my flatmate that I found a boy under a pile of oranges and now he's staying with us?

I grabbed my keys out of my back pocket, he tightly held my arm. "Comfy?" I smiled opening the green door. I love this home, the unusual aesthetic of the place always managed to put me in a indescribable pleasant mood.

The architect had done a wonderful job, I placed my keys down making my way inside. I looked towards my phone, it was very cold inside. "Let's get you warm." Since picking him up I had noticed his cold body, he seemed to be trying to absorb all heat from me.

I leaned down onto my sofa, which was insanely deep, watching as the boy sunk. He looked around frantically and his eyes widened.

"It's okay!" I ushered slipping off my shoes, my feet were so sweaty. I need a shower. He didn't calm at my words and pushed off up of the sofa, "Buddy just wait, it's okay."

I tried to place my shoes down neatly but they were scattered on the floor, he managed to wiggle down from the sofa. His face was red, filled with determination as his legs grazed the floor below.

"Careful." I watched as he bite his lip as he held his knee. He tried to walk, or may like waddle. His right leg look week as he bounced on his left leg.

I need to get that checked out. He limped around, he had huge eyes. They were filled with curiosity as I knelt down. "What's your name buddy?"

I tried to speak with a soft tone, "Milo." Milo. His voice was very timid and he placed his hands on my knees. "That's an awesome name Milo. Do you know where your house is?"

He titled his head, like babies do when they are happy. I spend too much time on social media. I took his confused silence as a no lifted the baby- Milo, up by his arms.

I decided I needed to check for any missing kids in the community, every block was very close and I was fortunate enough to be social and apart of the many groups.

I sat down on one of my chairs at the main table, I shifted Milo on my lap so he too was facing the table. I moved my phone out of my pocket, "Let's try find your parents huh?" Milo didn't care too much and just leaned back into my chest.

He was way to calm and collected, I doubted he even had a clue what was going on. "Are you hungry?" I was.

He didn't reply, but in the thick of the silence I heard a little roar. Milo's faced flushed and his chubby cheeks were a rosy pink. I decided to order some food, normally I try order from a new place ever night but for something easy.

Like a simple chicken and chips. Opening up my delivery app, I ordered from my local spot.

Your food will be delivered in 20 minutes.

Fine by me, that gives me 20 minutes of uninterrupted time to snoop around. First I rummaged through all the groups before landing on something which peaked my interest.

(I haven't decided if this is in the US or...let's roll with New Jersey for now?)

Trafficking and a brothel, tapping on more. I noticed there had also been sightings of drug abuse.

If only I had checked my social media more often, "That's not very good." I muttered under my breath. Only then did I noticed Milo's slumped body.

I stiffened, was he sleeping. His little stomach rose with each breath and I smiled. Although he had said less than a few words to me, I wanted to know so much more. Where did he come from? Did he have any parents?

Finally the doorbell rang, and I held Milo in my arms trying to be as gentle as possible. I knFow there is an easier way to answer the door however every time I tried to placed him on another chair he would grunt and tightly grip onto me.

"Delivery for Issac?" I nodded and his eyes softened at the sight of Milo in my arms. "Got your hands full there." He joked and I nodded hoping that even the quietest of noises wouldn't wake him up.

"Thank you." I gladly took the food off him, happy to eat after a stressful and confusing day. My stomach definitely agreed with that message.

..

After gaining a whole new school of how to plate food one handed, I managed to eat, the chips were the perfect comfort food. "Milo, wake up." I brushed over his fluffy. thin brown hair.

He shuffled around a bit before I saw his big green eyes again, "Hi buddy, did you sleep good." He didn't reply and just snuggled into me trying to suck any more comfort for me.

I blew on a small chip, cooling it down. "Eat some food Milo." I took his face out from my chest and he looked frightened of the food. I guided the chip to his mouth and he opened his mouth slowly.

"You want to try some?" He lifted up his arm and tried to hold the chip. "'ts hot." He mumbled.

He seemed concerned pushing my hand away, "It's supposed to be, it's so tasty." I grabbed another chip biting into it. Dramatizing my chews as I bite into the fluffy food, I closed my eyes like they do in adverts and hoped maybe he would want to try it.

"So good."

Peeking my eyes open, Milo looked less scared and I tried to reach up towards my plate. "You want some bud?" Calling him buddy didn't even faze me, it just was natural to me. I handed him a smaller chip and he bite into it happily.

He didn't bite for a second, and I grabbed a tissue encase he threw it out. But just like I had done, he slowly chewed it. Emphasizing every movement, "So gwood." I chuckled and he smiled at that.

He took a few more, getting more eager with every bite. "Woah slow down, the food isn't running away." He didn't listen and just ate contently.

I mean as long as he ate, right?

As he wiped his hands along his joggers I noticed those horrid joggers, the rips made my stomach drop.

I took a chip every now and then, but truthfully seeing him eat the whole meal made me happy. I grabbed my glass lifting his arms away from the plate. I raised the glass to his lips and he slowly sipped at the water.

But before I knew it, his hands were trying to hold the glass, he yanked it away from my grasp making the water dropped over us both. My lipped pulled into tight lips and just sighed. "You silly sausage."

He giggled at that and licked his chin, getting lick of a few of the drops of water. "Look at the mess you made, huh." I teased but he didn't find that too funny and he immediately went back to trying to hide himself.

His body language wasn't open and calm but now worried and concerned. "I'm only joking Milo, it was an accident." His face remained stoic and I hoped I hadn't f-ed it all up.

I'm still working on this whole thing.