Polaroid Memories

Introduction

"He looks at him from where he sits, perched on his bed with Sasha in his lap, purring.

'You don't usually make the trip out here," he mutters, blue clashing against brown.

'You haven't been to school in days, we're worried."

'Why?'

'Because, Yuri, we care.'

Yuri's breath hitches and he unconsciously begins to pet Sasha's fur. His eyes cast down to her, sapphire blue orbs looking back at him in pity.

'I have to take care of Sasha," he mumbles under his breath, voice so broken and quiet Otabek has to take a few steps forward to hear him repeat himself.

'Why? What's wrong with her?"

The blond seizes and his shoulders tense, a new wave of tears threatening to break free from where Yuri has kept them so far. He can feel his shoulders heave, an arm wrapping itself around his shoulders and pulling him to a source of warmth; Otabek.

'Because she's old and I'm worried about what might happen to her." As if to emphasize his point, Sasha stands up from her place in Yuri's lap and the tan boy is able to see what he means. Both pairs of eyes land on the cat's swollen belly and it's almost as if he's seeing the world through a new perspective.

Otabek rubs soothing circles into Yuri's back as the petite blond sobs louder. 'I'm sure she'll be fine, she's a fierce and strong cat.'

'I wish I could be strong," he whimpers, heat rushing to his cheeks in embarrassment.

'Nobody without a sense of kindness can be strong,' he assures him, Yuri's hiccups becoming less frequent as the soothing becomes comforting. 'Come back to school."

'Why should I?'

'Because Victor is making a fool of himself, hanging around missing posters with your face on them.' "

~~~

As you can see, that is a preview of my story "Polaroid Memories." This excerpt is from a chapter later in the story, not happening in the beginning.

I hope you enjoy this story enough to get to this part.

Thank you