Yin's Story

6

The next morning I wake up early. Spring is already awake.

"Good morning kid," he says.

"Good morning Spring."

I stretch and stand up.

"I've been thinking kid. You don't know anything about surviving here do you?"

"Nope,"I reply.

"I'm gonna have to teach you then. I'll teach you to fight and steal and use your words to get out of bad situations."

"When?"

"Everyday at break time."He replies.

I smile and hug him.
"C'mon kid, we're gonna be late for morning roll call," he says smiling.

We walk out to the same field as yesterday and stand in the exact same lines as the guards read out the exact same names.
Spring and I go to the laundry room again. He sits on the counter.

"I don't have to wash all the time. So I just get to chill for a bit," he explains. I climb up on the counter and sit next to him.
"Anyway, kid I don't know a whole lot about you. Tell me about yourself. Friends? Family? Pets?"

"I've got a brother. He looks a lot like me but he's a few years older than me. I'm an orphan my parents were killed. How about you? "I answer.

"No siblings. I'm an orphan. Born an orphan. I had a friend."

"What happened to him?"I ask curiously.

"He got out of here and left me to die. He came from a rich family you see. They put him in here for mental problems. He was my best friend."

"Tell me more Spring."

"We were more than friends at one point. He was my cellmate before you came. He's about fifteen now. Anyway one night I was crying because of something the doctor had done to me. He sat up, crawled over to me and took my hands." he says staring at his hands.

I watch him intently.

"I remember him telling me it was gonna be alright. But I couldn't calm down. Suddenly he kissed me full on the lips. I still remember that night. It was one of the best nights of my life."

"What was his name?"I ask.

"His name was Golden."

"Do you believe in love?"

"I used to,"Spring replies staring down at his lap,"Do you?"

"I'm starting to doubt that it exists."

He puts an arm around me.

"So we're both orphans huh?"Spring asks.

"Yup. We have no family."

"We could be each other's family. I've always wanted a sister. Only if you want to be."Spring suggests.

I smile.
"That's a great idea!"

He smiles at me.

"Well if you're gonna be any sister of mine I've gotta toughen you up," he says playfully punching my shoulder. I giggle.