1. ADULT CHILDREN

I escaped... I really did escape. But where are the rest?

The rain slowly reduced and turned into drizzles hitting a pale face. He slowly opened his eyes staring at the dark cloud that showed the sun peeking behind it. He really did escape. But where were the rest?

...

12 years ago...

"Momma, you're back" a little boy around the age of 4-5 with white neat hair and gold eyes ran up to a woman hugging her legs. "Tshh". She slightly hissed in pain when she was hugged but then turned around with a sweet smile looking down at the child "Yes baby I'm back". She gently ruffled his hair.

He smiled back at his mom as they stepped into their old shabby run down building they called home. "Are you hurt momma? Did you get hurt again?" The little boy asked with a serious face. The woman's face turned pale the moment he asked the question.

She didn't want her child to worry over her. He wasn't like any other child . He had gotten more matured than children of his age just for her. "Wait here momma" He pushed her to take her seat on a stool then dashed out to get his medical kits. He returned then gently helped her undress.

"Tshh". She bit on her bottom lip in pain. "You're covered in bruise momma". He slowly stepped back to take a look at her. Her fair beautiful skin was covered in pink and serious bruises. The old bruises turned dark, leaving spots on her fair skin. "I'll clean you up". He dipped a cloth in a bowl of water then gave a tight squeeze before moping her body gently.

"Tshh" The woman hissed again as soon as the cloth came in contact with her skin. "Did I hurt you?" He looked up to his mother in concern. "No. Momma is fine" Her eyes welled up with tears. "You're crying momma. Did I hurt you?" The little boy dropped the cloth and stared concerned at her.

Her body vibrated as she tried her best to hold in her tears. "No baby. Thank you. Thank you so much for everything". She pulled him into a hug, burying her face on his little shoulder. He had always been there for her. He had man up just to be there for her, as a pillar, as a supporter.

Later that night when they laid on their wooden bed to sleep. "Momma". He quietly called out. "Yes baby". She slowly opened her gold eyes that shone as the moon reflected its light on it. "Can you stop going to work. You're always coming back home hurt. I can find something to do to provide enough food for us". The boy sat up gazing at his mother's pretty face.

"Nah. Little boys like you don't work. You're just a child. You should play with other kids in the neighborhood". She calmly placed her hand on his hand. "No. The children in the slum are stupid and annoying. They called you a slut and I don't like it". His serious face and tone took her aback.

The children weren't wrong. She was indeed a prostitute that worked in a brothel just to keep food on the table. Her child didn't know of this, she had always lied to him of working as a maid in a store. Yet he innocently believed. He trusted his mother even with his life. "Alright it's fine. You don't have to play with the other kids but you don't get to work.

"No one would want to hire a 4 years old child". She calmly said. "I'm 5. I'll be 5 in a few months". He pulled out his hand showing his five fingers as he spoke. "Okay... okay. You're 5". The woman meekly smile at her child filled with pure innocence. "C'mon let's sleep" She pulled him to lie down wrapping her arm around him. He gently snuggled into her embrace and fell asleep.

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