Life Long

Sitting among the equipment of a park's playground was a childlike figure looking down at his hands; more specifically his right hand. With his free hand he swiped at his vermillion hair, then traced the outline of his eyepatch on the left side of his face. He wore a pair of blue shorts and a clover green shirt with sleeves cut down to the elbows, and around his waist was a red sash as bright as his hair. A smile was always waiting at the corner of his lips, and he swayed just slightly to the beat of a song that played in his head. The frame of his body seemed frail; his skin was a little pale from the winter spent indoors making his dusting of freckles stand out on his nose.

His bright green eye sparkled with joy as he looked at the objects in his hand. The first one he examined carefully was a silver and gold locket given to him by his cousin, Halie. This locket was one of the few material objects he cherished. He popped the clasp that held it closed. On the left was Halie and his family. Halie had golden-red hair, his Japanese wife with hair as black as night. His baby daughter took after her mother in looks, and his baby son took after his with short but wavy golden-red hair. That sweet smile graced the young redhead's face while his eye turned to the picture on the right. This one was a dark haired and dark eyed Japanese young man with broad shoulders. his name was Riyan, and he was the most precious person in his life.


It seemed like years ago when that fated day happened they first met, but it was only half a year, he knew. Thinking of that encounter always mad e him happy, even if it had been a horrible day. It was five and a half months ago on a day when the sun shone with bright, unforgiving rays. The world seemed surreal with coldness unlike anything he had ever seen.

His only thought was to run. Run and never look back. Run, or never see his cousin again. He sprinted with lungs that burned and legs tiring quickly. Four bullies followed him yelling jeers and threats of what they'd do if--when they caught him. Tears blinded him as he turned the corner, he skidded but kept going. The world was that unforgiving sunlight, allowing him to hope of survival on this day. In the next moment his life would end. He no longer had to burden his own family. That moment came faster when his small body collided solidly with someone else.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to. I--" he stopped short, hearing the feet of the bullies still in pursuit. "I have to go!" The boy pushed past the tall youth and stumbled. He was caught now, there was no way he could get away. His legs buckled and he hit his knees. He felt sobs rise up in his chest and cringed when he saw them coming. Curling up with his head tucked down was all he could do with no energy left to run; he was dead. One bully grabbed him by the arms and hauled him easily from the concrete as if he were a feather. He whimpered and even though he squeezed his eyes closed, he knew that wouldn't make what was about to happen go away. He kept his head tucked down, and his arms hugged tight against his body. Every muscle in his body was tensed, waiting for the blows to fall. He heard someone's enraged retort. After that, a yell of pain, then the sounds of punches being exchanged. It all happened so fast that when he was jerked around, and next hitting the ground, he couldn't stop his head from snapping back and into the concrete. The impact sent a shock of pain through his entire body. The ringing in his ears and the disorientation that followed the pain covered all other sounds. He could still hear the faint sounds of a struggle. The redhead drew in on himself afraid that he was next when the fight around him ended, but even after a moment no other pain was delivered to him.

What did come next was so unexpected that he thought he'd already died. He couldn't believe it, but gentle hands picked him up and cradled him protectively.

"Are you alright?" the firm voice belonging to this heroic stranger asked. The young redhead nodded, even as he sobbed into the stranger's shoulder. Slowly the pain in his head receeded into a dull throbbing ache and he dared to open his single eye. Everything was overbright, the sun reflecting harshly off the the white shirt of his protector. He was set on a shady bench while his head spun from the movement. The redhead leaned forward, holding the left side of his head. God did it ache!

"I'm sorry," he whispered in a little voice to the youth that saved him. One of his big hand rubbed his back softly, soothing.

"There's no need to be sorry. Those guy's needed a good pounding."

"You're right, but I didn't mean to cause trouble," he sounded so young and so sad.

"Nah, it's okay. What's you're name?" he asked, voice and manner friendly.

Morgan raised his head and smiled innocently. "Morgan. My cousin calls me Lil'Morgan though, 'cause I'll always be small."

"Call me Riyan." A frown of concern was on his face. He reached out to gently touch Morgan's left cheek. "What happened to you?"

"I... lost my eye, when I was five..." He covered the left of his face; there was extensive scarring all around the socket where an eye may have once been. The redhead opened his right hand and turned over the black eyepatch he held. The strap was broken, and there was an iridescent design of an eye and tear drop in it.

"Who could have don this to you?" Riyan asked next with his face pale from the shock of such a thing.

"My mother," he replied bitterly, regretfully. He explained what had happened and why. His mother hated him for the simple fact that he looked so much like his father. She'd always attempted to run away from the memories of the man that got her pregnant, but Morgan's eyes never failed to remind her of him. She always mistreated him and he genuinely believed there was a guardian angel watching over him, protecting him him the worst of it all. There was one day, however, that his mother snapped and drew a knife from the cutting block. He went on to tell Riyan that he didn't remember anything that happened, but his cousin, Halie, took him to the hospital. He knew it had to have been his guardian angel that kept him alive, and Halie agreed. After another accident a few years after that, Halie took him away to live in Japan, never to see his mother again. "I've been lucky to escape with only a missing eye, and infection never got me. You know, I've never felt comfortable talking about that with anyone before..."

Riyan sat in the silence that followed. Morgan leaned back and rested his eye. It was amazing to the tall youth that Morgan could be so casual about something like that, especially with him.How could a mother do that to her child? No matter the hate for the child's father. It was a simple unbalance in the brain, something that makes a person think like that. He continued to wonder about those impossibilities until he and Morgan were both startled by the ring of a cellphone. Riyan pulled it out, flipped it open and said hello. When he hung up he looked to Morgan and smirked.

"I have to go, will you be okay? I can walk you home if you want," he offered, suddenly protective of the little redhead. Morgen shook his head.

"I'll be okay."

Riyan stood.

"Riyan," Morgan hopped up despite his exhaution. "Thank you, you really saved me." The smile he gave Riyan was so bright and innocent that the youth smiled back, unable to help it.

"I'm glad I could help. Next time I see you, it better not be because you're in trouble again." He ruffled Morgan's bright hair. After their goodbyes, they parted ways, and neither of them really expected to meet again.


The next time they met, Morgan had just come home from school. He was sitting on the couch just inside the two-story house. From down the street he could hear Halie's motorcycle coming.

"Morgan!" Hallie called after the motor shut off. The redhead jogged out the door.

"Yes, Halie?" The little one stopped when he noticed the passenger Halie had.

"Come help me. I scared this poor lad earlier, made him fall off his skateboard and twist his ankle." Halie pulled his leg over the bike, making sure not to hit his passenger, and took off his helmet. Morgan hugged Halie, making his cousin grin.

"Morgan?" Halie's passenger pulled off his helmet, having gotten off the the bike to balance on one leg. He was tall and familiar. The little redhead gasped as he realized who it was and a huge grin split across his face.

"Riyan!" Morgan just about tackled him with his 80 or so pounds. He clung tightly to Riyan's waist while Halie steadied him.

"Come inside, you two. I need to look at that ankle." Halie helped Riyan into the house. Morgan followed close behind carrying Riyan's skateboard. "Go upstairs and get the first aid wraps I have in the bathroom, Morgan."

"Okay!" Morgan raced up the stairs. Halie had Riyan sit on a stool in the kitchen. He lifted his leg and examined the ankle with gentle fingers.

"You know my Lil'Morgan?" Halie asked casually. The other nodded, making him chuckle. "You see he's not like others, right? He's had a hard life and he's grown up still in the body of his eight year old self."

"I noticed," he said uncertainly, but smiled. "He's a sweet kid. You should know, you saved him from his mother. I stopped him from getting a rightly painful beating last week." Halie paused in his assessment of Riyan's ankle to give him a thoughtful look. Morgan zipped into the kitchen with the requested item. Halie gave him his thanks and turned to wrap Riyan's ankle. The smallest among them stood smiling bright and swayed from foot to foot.

"Hey there, Little One. I guess I'm the one in trouble this time, huh?" Morgan giggles as Riyan ruffled his vermillion hair. The bigger youth hung around with them for a few hours. They talked none stop until Halie gave him a ride home.

They saw Riyan ofter after that. Halie hardly minded it, since he was the first friend Morgan was happy to have. Riyan kept Morgan happy and distracted from his bouts of depression at the same time as protecting him from being harrassed. That was a good friendship for Morgan, deeply bonded since the day Riyan saved him.

The last trial of that bonding was the day Morgan had been extremely down. Riyan refused to let him stay in a funk, so he took him out to do anything he wanted. One way or another, Morgen had gotten upset and cried about it. He'd expected Riyan just to leave, since no one liked a crybaby, even if he couldn't help it. No, he only sat in silence with Morgen for a long moment, and hugged him around the shoulders.

"Cry til you feel better, Little One. It's alright." Morgan and Riyan both knew they'd always be friends, always sticking together.


That was half a year ago. He'd turned 18 since then and surprised Riyan. He couldn't believe Morgan was a couple months older than him.

Now, Morgan closed the locket and st it on his knee. He rubbed the back of his hand across the eyepatch he wore even today. The larger object was next for him to think about. It was a small wooden doll he'd made. Dark braided hair, dark bead eyes, a little curved smile and exageratedly wide shoulders adorned this little doll. Under it's arm was a skateboard and it wore boxing gloves, and around it's neck was a string snake. The smile on the young redhead's face was still the sweet smile he'd always had.

"Morgan!" someone called, "Morgan?" He could hear a skate board on the sidewalk. The redhead jumped up, excited, and stuffed the little doll in his sash. The locket went around his neck and under his shirt. "Little One, where are you?"

A huge smile stuff on his face as he raced down the path and into Riyan's view. "Right here! Are you ready to go snake hunting with me?" The tall youth grinned at his little friend, throwing his boxing gloves over one shoulder. Morgan tackled Riyan.

"Of course, let's go." He kicked up the skateboard and stuck it under his arm. Riyan ruffled th little one's hair, making him laugh, a little blush on his face.

"Let's have fun!" Riyan nodded to that. They turned down the next path and into the woods beyond to hunt snakes.

A friendship like that lasts a lifetime. Through thick and thin, hell or high water. True friends protect you, stand by you, and tease you into smiling. Lil'Morgan finally found that friend on an unfortunate and horrible day. Since that day, not another bad day has found him.