~Sweet Home~ || Kidge AU || DISCONTINUED

Pictures

A/N: Hey hey! So this cover is Demons by Boyce Avenue feat. Jennel Garcia. It's really relaxing and I love playing this one on repeat! (Last time I'm saying this, but just swipe right and play!)

Also, a quick warning. This chapter contains dialogue about eating disorders, abuse, bullying, cutting, etc. Unfortunately, it'd be bad to skip this section because it has some foreshadowing and important characters. Apologies for that. Just make sure to prepare yourself.

Good luck reading~

Keith and Shyla were at the dining area and sitting at a long table. They had already gotten their food and started eating their meals. There were other people in the room who were chatting and munching away. It was crowded but at the same time, empty.

It felt like Keith was the only person who could've broken down at any moment.

"Brother!" A girl yelled. She walked over to where Keith and Shyla sat and took a seat in front of them. "Hi!" Her head tilted, "Who's that?" She pointed to Shyla.

This female was Krolia, patient 356. She had just turned 11 and was in the hospital because of her eating disorder. At the age of 10, she had passed out completely from the lack of food in her body. Her parents were abusive and started to starve her at the age of 9 until she was a tiny skeleton. When doctors found that out, they arrested them and her aunt took care of her. Once she was done with getting fed by tubes, she was ordered to stay at a mental hospital until she was healthy.

In this specific moment, she was not fully well but was making wonderful progress.

Shyla smiled, "I'm Shyla, I'm new here and I'm Keith's travel buddy!"

Keith laughed, "Travel buddy?"

She harshly whispered, "What else am I supposed to say to a little girl?"

He mumbled back, "She's 11. She knows what an escort is."

"I do!" Krolia said. "Big brother taught me what that is!"

Shyla chuckled nervously, "G-Good!" She asked Keith quietly, "Are you her actual brother?"

"Nope, we're not related," Keith said bluntly. "I don't know why she calls me that, but it doesn't bother me so I've never felt the need to ask."

"I see..."

"It's nice to meet you Shyla!" The little girl stated. "I'm Krolia! I hope we can be best friends!"

"Y-Yeah! Best friends!"

Keith giggled, "Keep up the good work."

"Shut up, would ya?"

"Yeah yeah..."

Keith took another bite of his food and sipped his juice. Shyla did the same but with coffee.

The three of them talked about the future and what they would do if they weren't in the hospital. Krolia said that she'd want to go back to school. She missed all of her friends and wanted to learn more about the water cycle. She never did finish that lesson. Shyla mentioned that she would probably travel around the world, writing all types of stories. She loved to write. She also liked to travel. Combine those two things and that's a magical dream that was yet to happen. That was their hopes and dreams.

"If I were out of this joint," Keith said, "I'd like to just explore the world. It feels like forever since I've been outside."

"I bet," Krolia voiced. "The world must've changed a lot over this past year."

Krolia may have been little, but she knew about Keith's situation. She understood it completely and knew how serious it was.

"I could show you guys some pictures," Shyla proposed. "I have a few photographs of festivals, cities, and events."