⚠️ Reader Advisory
This story contains themes of child abuse, trafficking, violence, and psychological trauma.
Sensitive topics such as exploitation and coercion are referenced.
Reader discretion is advised.
This story does not glorify abuse. It explores survival, trauma,
Yuri searched everywhere
Every street
Every shadow
Every passing face
But he never saw Aeris
The cold air wrapped around him, slipping into his lungs like ice
His legs gave out
He fell to his knees
Empty eyes staring at nothing
"I lost you again…" he whispered
_Flashback_
A place too loud for children
Perfume thick in the air
Laughter that sounded hollow
Eyes that never softened
Eight-year-old Yuri stood near the wall, head lowered
His eyes were empty
An older boy approached him
"What's your name?"
Yuri froze
A memory flashed —
A sharp sting
A voice shouting at him to speak
"…Yuri," he answered quietly
The boy leaned closer, trying to touch yuri's face
Before a hand intercepted
A young boy stepped in front of Yuri
He was so beautiful
Soft light brown hair
Light brown eyes
Light brown lips
He is 16 an male prostitute
"Brother Z," Yuri whispered
While smiling beautifully said
Z:
Ohh my my... this kid isn't a prostitute he is only here to serve drinks okay
That young boy blushed hard seeing z
That young boy said okay then walked away looking z
Z:
"How many times did I tell you to hide in the room?"
"I was dragged out," Yuri replied
Z's jaw tightened
He led Yuri back to a small locked room
"Stay here," Z said softly, brushing his hair back. "I'll make sure no one comes."
Yuri nodded
Yuri — Inner Voice
I was sold when I was six
My mother hated me
She called me a mistake
She beated me abused me whenever she saw me
There is no wonder no one loves a kid that was born through rape
By seven, I learned what survival meant
I was raped and abused by several mens and womens when I was 7
They were older and younger
I always felt heavy pain and collapsed in the pain everything was cold all the time
I wasn't the only one that went through this There were many children there
Small
Silent
Forgotten
Cold became normal
Pain became quiet
_But then brother Z appeared_
Everyone call him z because z is the last alphabet
_it means end _
He want everything to end with him
he never want anyone to go through anything what he went through
He was warmth in a place that felt like fire and ice at the same time
He stood between us and the world
He hid us
Redirected attention
Protected his age and even the older ones
He smiled — even when he was breaking into pieces
Z — Inner Voice
No one protected me when I was 8
Every day felt endless
I couldn't escape
But if I couldn't escape—
Then I would shield them
Even if it cost me
Sometimes, alone, memories crushed my chest
Z muttered
Always those memories haunted me
With his nails he harmred his body
Sometimes I wanted something selfish....
_ I want to be protected_
_To smile without pretending_
_ I want to be loved _
_ I want to love _
_ I want to live a normal life _
His body trembled his heart ached in pain
Tears started to fell from his eyes
that's when he heared yuri's voice
Yuri:
"Brother Z?"
Z wiped his tears and put an smile covered his body and answered
Z:
"Come Yuri"
Yuri stepped forward
Yuri:
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Z chuckled
Yuri:
"Can I hug you?"
Z:
"Yeah come here"
Z took Yuri in his arms
Yuri rested his head on z's chest
Other kids came too
They surrounded him, resting their heads against him like he was their shelter
Tears filled Z's eyes again
I hope you all will be free and live your life
.....
The manager dragged the children into a line
Eyes down
Bodies trembling
A man entered
"Choose," the man said
Beside him stood a little boy
Eight years old
That man again said
"Choose aeris"
His gaze moved across the children
They looked terrified
But one pair of eyes stood out
Empty
Aeris pointed at Yuri
"I want him."
Yuri looked at aeris with empty eyes
The manger:
follow me
Aeris and Yuri followed the manger
The manger showed aeris the room
Aeris said looking at Yuri
Come
They both got inside
The manger closed the doors
Aeris walked toward the bed and called Yuri
Yuri walked toward him
Aeris pointed one the bed
Sit on the bed
Yuri sat on the bed
Instead of approaching him, Aeris kneeled down infront of yuri
He looked at Yuri and said
I won't hurt you," he said quickly. "My father forces me to do everything even things like this.… but I don't do what he wants."
His hands trembled
"He won't know. I'll say it happened. You're safe."
For the first time—
Yuri's eyes changed
They widened
Tears slipped down silently
Aeris reached forward and held his hands
They were freezing
"Everyone else looked scared," Aeris whispered. "But your eyes… they looked like nothing was there."
_They were empty _
"That's why I chose you."
Yuri sobbed
Aeris :
What's your name
Yuri:
Yuri
Aeris softly patted Yuri's head
Aeris :
There there don't cry
After Aeris left, Z rushed in
Z:
"Yuri. Look at me."
Yuri looked up — and chuckled
Yuri :
"That boy… he didn't hurt me," Yuri said softly. "He's forced too. But he refused."
Z exhaled slowly and smiled warmly
Z:
"I'm glad."
The days continued
Aeris came again
And again
Each time, he chose Yuri
Yuri pov
_Even a little light can make the endless darkness fade away_
Brother z and that boy was my light
I looked forward everyday to see him
He healed me in every way
He talked about so many different things
We talked quietly
About small things
About dreams
One day, he spoke about his life
He told me his father is a merciless gangster and there is not a single evil thing he hadn't done.....
And his mother tried to sexually assault him he ran away from home that day but his father found him
his days were pure hell ....his father would force him to kill people and use drugs he refuse to do it and then his father would beat him to death
the only reason his father keeps him alive is because aeris has high iq and can be useful in so many ways
Aeris:
What do you want to be?"
Yuri blinked his eyes sparkling
No one had ever asked him that
After thinking Yuri Said
"I want to be a florist,"
Aeris:
"A florist?"
Yuri:
"People are like flowers," Yuri explained. "Some look beautiful but have thorns. Some are hurt but still bloom."
He smiled faintly
Yuri:
"I want to be someone warm. To give people hope
Even if it's just in the form of a flower."
Aeris stared at him .....his eyes softened
"How can you be so kind," he asked softly, "when everything was cruel to you?"
Yuri's eyes softened
"Because I saw a flower growing between thorns."
He paused
"And I saw a bleeding hand still protecting others .....without bleeding on them "
_"Brother Z"_
"I want to be like him. But I can't smile the way he does even in this suffering."
Aeris looked down and said
"I hope no one suffers like this forever."
Yuri tilted his head
Yuri:
What you want to be ????
Aeris blushed hearing that question
Yuri chuckled seeing it
Aeris blushed hardly while saying
Ummm ....i want to be a model or an actor
Yuri :
And you know despite everything you have went through .....you're too kind
Yuri said while blushing
"you're admirable "
Aeris eyes sparkled
Aeris
"It's because I sweared to myself ....i will never be like them and when i grow up i want to be strong to protect others "
Aeris held out his little finger
Aeris:
"Pinky promise?"
Yuri hooked his finger with aeris
Aeris :
I'll protect you and everyone else when i grow and become strong. I promise."
Yuri felt something bloom inside his chest
Warm
Soft
Like the first flower breaking through frozen ground
He didn't know what it was
But for the first time—
_ The darkness didn't felt endless_