Solving You

Chapter 1: Memories

Sighing as the rain falls heavier, I wrap my jacket tighter around me. It's cold as hell out here considering it's fall and the rain only makes it worse. Granted, it's my favorite season, but when it chills me to the bone I tend to question that.

Shaking my head to myself, I pull my bag closer to myself where I'm hidden under a bridge. Currently, it shelters me from the rain but it's also where I've been staying for some time now.

Watching the rain fall and listening to it hit the bridge just above my head, I rest my head back as the sound begins to relax my mind from everything that's gone on today. However, before I can completely relax and fight sleep, the sound of horns beginning to honk catch my attention.

Frowning with a sigh, I push my bag closer to the crevice where I'd been sat before crawling carefully out from under the bridge. Taking a look over out at the street, there's a boy who looks to be around my age walking down the side of the road.

As I look further down the road, I realize there's a car speeding ahead. I quickly climb over and onto the road as I realize the driver of the cars lost control due to the heavy rainfall, the boy seeming to be somehow clueless.

Launching myself full speed towards him in attempt to save him from the accident, I manage to grab ahold of him and roll us into the far lane of the road just in time for the car to speed right on by. I feel his body grow rigid in my hold as the car passes, realization hitting him.

Laying on the ground in pain from the hard landing, he slowly climbs off of me before sitting next to me with wide eyes. Looking between where we'd been seconds before to where I'm at now a few times, he eventually manages to find words.

"T-Thank you..." He stutters in surprise and probably a bit of fear. I just nod my head, squeezing my eyes shut in pain for a moment before pulling myself back onto my feet.

"You need to be more careful, kid. It's nighttime and it's shitty driving conditions. You shouldn't be out here and definitely not unless you can pay full attention to your surroundings. It's not safe for you to be out right now." I tell him as I swipe some hair out of my face. Glancing down at my arm that I'd landed on, I realize I'm bleeding pretty good. Oh well.

"It's even less safe for you though... What're you doing out here anyways? You came out of like, nowhere..." He asks curiously. I just shake my head.

"Don't worry about me, I'll be just fine. I came out so that I could help you, that's all. Just go home, kid." I answer, beginning to head back towards the side of the road. He frowns though.

"At least let me walk you back home? You just saved me and it's the least I could do. Besides, this isn't the better part of town and it's not safe for you to be out here alone." He offers. I stop, turning my head to look at him with a small smile.

"I am home, kid. And, if either of us need walked back home to ensure their safety, it would seem to be you." I respond softly before continuing to the side of the road.

"Wait, what do you mean you're home? You live on the streets?" He questions in confusion, completely ignoring my gentle tease. I just nod in response as I climb over the barrier that separates the sidewalk next to the road from the grass and hill beside of it.

"Nonsense. Come on." He says, jogging up to me and tugging on my jacket sleeve. Frowning, I turn to look at the boy with a confused expression on my face.

"What're you talking about?" I ask hesitantly. He gives me a smile.

"You shouldn't be living out on the streets. Besides, you saved me and it's the least I can do to repay the favor. The streets are no place to be living." He explains with a bright look in his eyes.

"I don't want to impose on you and your family, kid. Honestly. I've been here for a while now and I'll be fine staying here a while longer." I argue, shaking my head with a smile as I walk down the hill to go back to hiding from the rain. However, he just follows before grabbing my bag and walking back out.

"Kid-" I try to stop him.

"My name is Jae. I'm not taking no for an answer, by the way. You won't be imposing. I don't want you on the streets and when my parents know that you saved me and that you were here on the streets, they'll only agree with me." He informs me as he begins walking down the street, back towards the way he'd came.

I sigh, shaking my head in defeat as I follow him back. Guess I get to leave the streets lonely for a while.

I shake my head at the memory as I begin getting ready for the day.

That was two years ago. Two years since I've had to suffer and survive on the streets. Ever since, I've been living with Jae, his younger brother and sister, and his parents. They took me in as if I'd been family all along.

They weren't too sure of the idea at first when Jae brought me here. They were fairly reluctant to let me stay here. But just as he'd said, once he explained what happened back on the streets and I apologized for intruding, beginning to leave, they'd stopped me.

They almost instantly argued for me to stay, realizing why he'd brought me here in the first place and seeing that I knew respect. The kids were still really little, not that they aren't now but, so they've treated me like an older sister all along as if that's exactly what I really was. Not some random girl off the streets.

I can't lie. It was the weirdest feeling ever the next day. Waking up in a regular house, on a regular bed. People treating me with kindness and being caring. Being treated like I'm actually part of a real family. All of it, things I'd not experienced previously.