Sanctuary | Chanbaek (2)

One

Baekhyun was only eleven. He was only eleven when he was forced to live in an orphanage full of other kids who could never understand him. The only speaking he did in five years was to himself, or in his sleep.

Until it happened. Another boy was thrown into the room. A boy he'd seen many times before, but never associated with. He even had a bunk bed below his.

"Why do I get in trouble for being blind?" The boy turned around, "Is somebody else in here?"

"I am," The voice was small.

"Are you new here? I don't recognize your voice."

"I'm not new."

"You're not? You don't speak?"

"No, not usually."

"What makes you want to speak to me then?"

"Because you asked if somebody else was in the room. I didn't want to fool you, it'd be unkind."

"Thanks for that," He stuck his hand out for a handshake, "I'm Chanyeol."

Baekhyun didn't shake his hand, he hadn't touched or been touched by another person for five years now (except for when his caretakers smacked him), speaking was enough for him, "I'm Baekhyun."

Chanyeol lowered his hand, "How long have you been here?"

"Five years."

"Really? I've always been here. So, fifteen years."

"I'm sorry. I'm sixteen. I turned sixteen this month."

"Don't be sorry, I guess my parents just opted for a different destiny, maybe it was for the better."

"Having parents is great."

"Oh, I bet it is. Were you in foster care?"

"No, I used to have parents."

"You don't have them now? I'm sorry."

"I had a big brother too," Baekhyun didn't understand why he was telling Chanyeol all of this, he'd never told anyone anything, but for some reason, it felt good to get it off of his chest, "I hate it here."

"Me too, sometimes I want to run away, but I would probably get hit by a car as soon as I took two steps," Chanyeol laughed a little, "Maybe you could run away with me, Baekhyun. You can be my eyes."

"Me?"

"Yeah, sorry, that was probably weird, it's just that most kids in here ignore me when I talk or ask for help."

"Oh, it's okay."

"You're pretty quiet, aren't you?"

"Sorry."

"No need to apologize. I was just pointing it out."

"I can be loud, but only around people I really know."

"I'd like to get to know you."

Baekhyun found it weird that somebody actually found an interest in him, "Maybe, I'd like to know you too. Tell me about yourself."

"There isn't much to tell. I was left at the steps of this place when I was a newborn, I mean, nobody wants a blind kid, right?"

"I think you're cool, even if you're blind."

"Thanks, anyway, I've lived here my whole life and never had a friend."

"Well, you have one now," Baekhyun made rules about not getting close to anyone when he first showed up at the orphanage. Why am I doing this? He wondered.

"Thank you. What's your story?"

"Well, I lost all of my family," why am I telling him this?, "There was a drunk driver, we got in a collision. I was the only one who survived, barely, I had to get lung surgery, so now I only have one lung.

"That's a miracle that you survived."

"No, it's not. I wish I would've died too," tears pricked at Baekhyun's eyes, "Nobody wants a kid with the kind of problems I have."

"Don't say that," Chanyeol found Baekhyun's shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. It gave Baekhyun the chills, "You're not better off dead."

"This is no life, Chanyeol. You wouldn't know because this is the only life you've ever had."

"I know it probably means nothing, but you have me now, okay? I don't want you to think like that."

"I can't help it. You could never understand."

"No, I couldn't," Chanyeol sighed, "Can you promise me something?"

"Maybe."

"Don't kill yourself."

"Okay."

"Promise?" Chanyeol put his pinky out.

"Promise," Baekhyun linked his pinky with his own.

Crosses don't count.