8.

Mom, why are those two men holding hands?

Copito," says the woman looking at the child she had holding her hand, "you are small but they love each other and nothing else matters but their love, if you love someone nothing else should matter," says the woman looking at her child with a nice smile, "if you love someone I will support you no matter who it is, okay?

The child nods with a smile - but... isn't that bad? --he says, doubtfully.

If you love each other it's not bad and promise me you will never hurt anyone because of their tastes, okay? --says the woman caressing the child's cheek and he just nods.

Jessi! --says a 10-year-old Samuel.

Tell me, little one," says the girl looking at her brother.

I... I like someone," he says shyly.

Like this? --he says, smiling weakly.

Well, I find it nice," he says, "did Dad hit you again?

Not quiet," he says, looking at the boy, "but Sammie, you said, 'Is he a man? Who is he?

The boy nods as he looks at his sister but only receives a sharp blow from the back and his sister retreats in fear

WHAT DO I HEAR," says the upset man behind them, "MY SON IS A FAMILY? AND MY DAUGHTER SUPPORTS IT SAMUEL GIVES ME DISGUST I HAVE NOT RAISED YOU THAT WAY AND ALSO," says the man to hit again the child who did not understand anything, "I HOPE THIS WILL HEALTHY YOU," says the man without stopping hitting the child and his sister was the same or worse, but Samuel would not let his father hit her and he received double for defending her.

S...Sam... Samuel t... I like you," says a little Joseph.

Jos...Joseph -says the boy somewhat pained by his father's beating that was still present in his weak little body and the fear that he saw him in that situation and not knowing that the boy who was proposing had also suffered from his feelings--I can't, you're ugly you're sick and you're weird.

Samuel, sammie please wake up--hear a voice and with difficulty try to open his eyes but the light prevented him from moving but the pain was present in his body--min do not move

Jos...seph? --he says in a thick, worn-out voice.

If it's me, we're in the hospital," she says, approaching the boy.

I'm... I'm sorry," says Samuel, even with his eyes closed, he felt it was easier to talk.

Why? --says Joseph, confused.

For treating you badly as a child," says Samuel without opening his eyes, "I...

No, Samuel, don't apologize," Joseph interrupts, looking down, "it wasn't your fault, we'll talk later, the doctor will come to see you and then you must rest," says Joseph, warning that Samuel had already woken up.

Samuel breathed a sigh when he felt that Joseph had left the room and could finally open his eyes with a little pain. He also hated hospitals for taking away the person he loved most in the world.

Samuel? --I hear a woman's voice and it becomes familiar.

Mrs. Sandra? --says Samuel trying to get settled but Joseph and the doctor prevented him from doing so.

What happened to you? --he says, helping Samuel settle in to begin examining him.

Na...nothing alone...--he stopped to think that he was going to say // what do I say? // he thought something alert-- m...roast me...assaulted--he says in a clumsy manner to which Joseph noticed that he was lying--

Ah, I understand you must be careful and you must make a complaint," says the woman examining the boy, "and be grateful that your friend helped you or it could have been worse, by the way, are you in the same class as Felix? --she asks Joseph.

Yes, are you his mother? --Samuel, you are a minor. I need the number of someone to come see you, your parents?

Mmm... They are on a trip and they are not in the country and my sister is not there either she went to study far away -says Samuel lying once again-.

No one is there? --says the somewhat dubious woman.

No," says Samuel, sighing, "I am alone.

And I," says Joseph, offended, and the others laugh.

You can come with me," she says to Joseph, "Samuel, you can settle down and rest a little longer," says the woman, and then go out with Joseph behind her.

I'll be honest with you," says the serious woman, "Samuel is not well. He's been hit a lot, and some of his wounds are very deep.

Sadly, no," says Joseph, somewhat discouraged, "I'm also worried, but I can't do anything. Samuel and I aren't friends.

It's okay, but he must stay another day and someone must be older to come," says the woman looking at Joseph's face, who looked worried. "He'll get better," says the woman, nodding to him and then leaving.

Joseph didn't know who he would ask to come for Samuel until it crossed his mind // Sian, was it? I must learn his name// think before I take his phone

Lucas, do you have Felix's number? --he asks his friend.

If so, why? --Listen to the guy on the other line.

I need it Lucas, you give it to me," says Joseph a bit upset.

What's going on? --Lucas asks, somewhat concerned.

I'm at the hospital with Samuel and I need to talk to Felix," he says more quietly.

What! I'm going over there--Joseph was surprised to hear that because his friend was worried about Samuel //what's going on?//he didn't understand anything about what was going on but that didn't matter to him--

Can I have the number? --says Joseph once again.

It's okay," he says, and then gives him the boy's number.

Thank you," he says and then hangs up.

Hello Felix? says Joseph waiting for the freckled man's answer

I'm not his brother, who is he? --Listen to the voice on the other end of the line.

This is Matthew Joseph. I need to speak to Felix, please," says Joseph, trying to be polite.

Joseph!? Wow I'm Park Christopher - they say on the other side of the line - what do you need? Felix can't see you right now

You can tell him that when he calls me it's urgent," says Joseph somewhat nervously, "thank you, Christopher.

Look at the time on his phone, it was 10:00 p.m:30 --Samuel was almost 2 hours unconscious-- he says putting away his phone and goes to the room where Samuel was, when he enters he realizes that the boy is sleeping he looked so fragile and innocent and that caused him so much pain in his chest //Forgive me Samuel, I am a fool I have hurt you so much I do not deserve your forgiveness I simply do not deserve you sammie// without realizing his thoughts were destroying him, his cheeks were covered with tears and with the sleeve of his hoddie he suddenly dried them was when he felt his phone vibrating was Luke

Seph where you are already in the hospital," says his somewhat agitated friend.

I'm on the third floor second corridor," Joseph says in a whisper so as not to disturb Samuel.

It's okay," says his friend, and then he hangs up.

After a while he left the room and met his two friends and this surprised him but only the hug without saying anything

How is it? --Gael asked, looking at his worried friend.

Better now he's sleeping," says Joseph with a weak smile.

What happened? --Lucas asks, making his friend sit in the seats that were in his place.

He was beaten, I was in the park as usual and I saw him walking in a wobbly manner until I saw him collapse on the ground -- he says in a shaky voice -- I brought him to the hospital and they treated his wounds and did some stitches on the side of his shoulder, the doctor found him under weight and I need to contact someone to come and get him tomorrow -- he says with a sigh -- he was almost two hours unconscious and what are you doing here?

You thought we'd leave you alone," says Lucas with a slight smile.

Don't even think about it," says Gael sitting next to him, "we know you care about Samuel after all, don't you?

Yes," he sighs, "did you know that Christopher is Felix's brother," Joseph says, looking at his friends, "and his mother is a doctor.

Joseph -- speak Gael thinking -- why didn't you ask his mother for his number?

It didn't occur to me -- the two older ones look at each other and make fun of the boy.

Copito, John and Joseph came to find you to play," says the woman leaning out of her room.

Yeees Joseph--he said the boy running to his friends--

The children played in Samuel's backyard until they fell asleep in this

Sammie," says the woman in a sweet voice, "the kids must go now.

Nooo," said Samuel rubbing his little eyes.

Goodbye, Sammie," says Joseph, taking John's hand and then leaving.

Copito come to eat your sister has arrived," says the woman helping the little one get up from the floor and go home.

Samuel, look at me," says the woman in a voice, "I want you to keep smiling.

No," shouts Samuel, frightened with his little eyes full of tears, his mind was wandering a lot and now it didn't help him, he couldn't control his crying and his tremors were so frightening that he felt alone.

Sammie," says Joseph as he approaches the boy and hugs him, "I'm with you, Sammie.

Jos... Joseph," said Samuel, still crying in Joseph's embrace, "I am afraid.

Don't worry, I'm with you," he says, lifting the boy's chin to dry his tears. "You're not alone tomorrow, Peter, Felix and your un-boyfriend will come to see you, but you must promise to rest, right?

No... I don't want them to see me like this Joseph," says Samuel looking away, "I don't want them to walk away

They won't do it sammie they and I love you very much no matter what happens we will be with you," says Joseph releasing the boy to accommodate him to sleep, "you are not alone sammie

I don't want to sleep Joseph, I don't want any more nightmares," says Samuel showing all the fear in his eyes.

It's okay," says Joseph sighing, "you know Luke and Gael are out there too when I told Luke they came without telling me.

Why... why? --asks Samuel, huddled in his blankets.

I don't know - says Joseph caressing his hair - sammie we want to change, you know I'm really sorry for all the damage I did to you and I want to change all that, I know it's hard to understand what's going on but I hope you can trust

Joseph," says Samuel somewhat hesitantly, "do you want to know why I rejected you? --He got a nod from the boy, as you know. Mom passed away and my father became an alcoholic.one day I confessed something to my sister and dad listened to it and beat me until he got tired saying that it was a lesson that would fix me, after that it was a few weeks until I went back to school and when I came back you proposed that I was very afraid that my father would hurt you or that I could not be near you and John -- pause -- I was afraid and I told you those things, sorry Joseph ... // broke the promise mom//

Sammie... I don't... You shouldn't have apologized, you had your reasons and now I understand you," says Joseph while caressing the boy's hair, "my dad also hit me when he knew how I felt about you and he still hates me for it, as does my brother and if I'm a mistake I prefer it that way," he smiles.

Joseph you should go home or sleep even you are in uniform," says Samuel worried, "I am so selfish I have you here so you should rest and your friends likewise

Don't worry, if we are here it is because we want to," he says with a reassuring smile, "rest, little one.

Will you stay with me? --he says with a beautiful gleam in his eye

Of course, if Sammie," says the boy caressing his face as delicately as a porcelain doll, "I'll get a chair," he says, "to go get one.

Joseph caressed his cheeks and face with such delicacy that it was difficult for Samuel to keep his eyes open and he gradually closed them...

Wow you can tell Joseph likes it," says Gael resting his head on his friend's shoulder, "but he said it's been a while, how long exactly?

I don't know," says Luke, resting his head on the other side, "but we've known Samuel for about three years.

Something like that," says Gael looking down the hall, "and how long have you liked that obnoxious squirrel?

You mean Han?-- Lucas says, raising his head-- he hasn't been since he got to high school," says the unimportant boy.

But why did you decide to bother him? --asked his friend.

I don't know," says Lucas, letting out a sigh, "did I want your attention? --he said in a question, and it all got out of control.

Silly Park," says Gael with a laugh.

What about you? I thought you liked someone," says Lucas, leaving his head where it was.

In... We're not going to see Joseph any better," he says, rising abruptly.

Aish Patterson be more careful," says the boy getting up from his seat while the other one laughs.

Come," he says as he carefully enters the room.

As they entered, both boys saw Joseph sleeping on the side of the bed, taking the little hands of Samuel Lucas without hesitation.

The next day Samuel woke up and felt weight on one side of him when he realized it was Joseph's head and when he noticed his interlocked hands he quickly pulled them out making Joseph wake up

Mmh... --says Joseph complaining -- Samuel we were like this all night and now you are like this -- says Joseph getting ready in the chair -- I must call someone and they must come to see you like this -- says Joseph leaving the room --

Joseph was calling Felix as he went downstairs to get coffee when he turned around to find a boy's fist on his cheek

Oh no putt! --Joseph recognized the voice of the boy "Sammie's boyfriend" because if I leave him that nickname until I remember his name.

What's wrong with you," says Joseph touching his cheek, "who the fuck are you?

Joseph," says Leo with a Felix and an Anderson behind him, "I apologize for him and where is sammie? What happened? How is he? Why didn't you contact me?

Hello," says Joseph without stopping touching his cheek, "first you must teach him not to hit strangers, second he is in one of the rooms on the third floor, third is better and fourth as I was going to communicate try to call Felix to hear something about you and I answered his brother and then wait for his call and did not arrive," he says looking at the four boys who were in front of him

Joseph -- says Gael behind the one next to Luke -- they need you at Samuel's and we're going

If I don't go to class, they'll kill me," says Lucas. "See you later.

What were they doing here? --this time it was Anderson who spoke somewhat annoyingly--

I asked Lucas for Felix's number so I could contact him and when they found out they came without telling me -- Joseph says being followed by the others to the apartment where Samuel was -- they stayed here with us all night.

FELIX! --a female voice can be heard in the distance screaming and the named one jumped up and turned around slowly

Mommy," she says, smiling as if nothing is happening.

You should be in high school," says the woman, once near her son.

I know, Mom, but I had to see Samuel," says the boy looking down and the older one sighs as he looks at everyone there.

Okay, I'll leave you for today," says the woman looking at her son. "Did Christopher know you were coming?

No," says Felix, shaking his head, "as soon as I got the call from Lucas, I went to look for Leo and we came

And Peter?" asks the woman, but the two boys raise their heads and answer yes. To which the woman looked at them a little bit surprised--

Mom, the same is Peter," says Felix laughing, "I found him on the street, he lives near Leo.

I understand," says the woman, "I must go to Samuel," she says, "to go to the boy who was on the other side of the door, but before I go in, I ask, "which of you is of age and will take care of Samuel and his healings?

I," says Leo seriously, "this one didn't smile at all, he was very worried about Samuel.

It's okay to come with me," says the woman entering the room.

It's okay, Joseph, you've done enough. You can go," says another older man, somewhat annoyed and suspicious.

It's okay -- he says, lowering his head -- Felix, can you say goodbye to Samuel for me? --The other boy nods as he watches the other boy leave without saying anything else.

Why did he do that?" Felix asks, somewhat annoyed.

That stupid guy hurt Sammie so much, I don't want him around," he says, looking at Felix.

Felix is right, you only know them one day, Samuel has known them for a long time and I have been for almost 3 years and since I arrived I saw them bothering him," says Anderson looking at his friend, "Joseph is capable of a lot just like his friends," he says while Park just nods.

Felix was a little upset because they had been nice to him but he didn't want to argue with his friend and they just waited for Felix's mother and Leo.

What about your friend?" asks the woman looking at the three of them.

He had to go," says Park and the woman sitting

Well Samuel wanted to see him but since," says the woman, "in an hour or so he will be able to leave," says the woman with a smile to leave and the children bow their heads.

Thank you very much," they say in unison.

You're welcome," the woman says and leaves.

The three boys came in very quickly and noisily scaring Samuel

Don't be silly," Leo says angrily, "you scared Sammie.

But the others ignored him and pounced on Samuel, embracing him

Sammie," says Felix with tearful eyes, "I'm sorry I left you alone.

Lix, don't worry," he says, stroking this one's hair, "it was impossible for you to be with me

Was Joseph -- asked Park, still upset receiving a bad look from her boyfriend and a denial from Samuel -- a good example of how to get a good look.

Don't you think if it had been him I would have brought him to the hospital," Leo asks somewhat annoyed but only received a shrug from his boyfriend.

It wasn't," says Samuel sadly, "it wasn't Joseph, and if it wasn't for him it would have been worse. --he asks, looking at the boys.

He had to go sammie," says Peter park.

But he asked me to say goodbye to him with you," Felix says with a smile, but he felt the angry look on both Peter's faces.

They passed by talking and fighting so that Samuel would eat until it was time to leave...

Joseph was a little upset because of that stupid man who hit him and why did he listen to him? // Samuel really doesn't want me around, as he would want me around he told me that he was afraid// Joseph was somewhat hurt when he remembered how Samuel brusquely took his hand away

¿! WHERE WERE YOU!? --His brother shouts at him, "Mommy's coming today, shouldn't you be in class?

Again," says Joseph, tired of his brother, "like you care whether I'm home or not, plus I just came to change my uniform to go to class," he answers his brother as he walks up the stairs.

Joseph changed his uniform for a clean one, just combed his hair and washed his face. He had some noticeable dark circles under his eyes, but that didn't matter to him.

When I arrived at the institute I arrived almost at the end of the first class, even knowing that the boy was not yet there.

Today would be a long day for Joseph...