Forest Boy

As I walked through the dark forest, I felt like I was being followed. I broke into a run and then a sprint. The dry leaves crumbled under my feet as I ran for my life. With a hiss of annoyance, the unknown person seized my left ankle and pulled me back.
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I fell head-over-heels and hit the forest floor. I felt myself go numb as I rolled onto my back and looked up at the surprisingly beautiful sky with stars that peered down at me with calm eyes. In front of me, I saw a boy. The boy's eyes looked into mine. His eyes were hazel brown. His hair was dark brown with dark patches of dirt and dried grass.
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He was skinny and pale. Our faces were so close that we almost touched. The boy's eyes showed loathing, and betrayal. He said angrily, "Why are you h..." He stopped mid-sentence. His expression turned from anger to kindness and curiosity. He opened his mouth and spoke again, "Hello, I'm Michael. You are...?"
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I replied "I'm Hedy. I-Is this where you live?"
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He answered with a voice that held only wisdom, "Yes. This forest is my home." He replied.
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I never knew the actual cause of it, but Michael fell into my arms slowly, yet gracefully, into my outstretched arms. He closed his eyes for a moment and opened them again. I was now crouching on the floor by his side. His eyelashes fluttered dreamily as he stared into the tops of the trees overhead. I looked where he was starting and saw an old, leaf-less, wide tree with so many branches, that it looked like a huge ball of brown yarn. It seemed to have realized I was studying it, because when the cold, chilled wind blew, it gave a low howl of greeting. I laid, the now unconscious, Michael on the soft layer of fresh green moss nearby and set out in search of some berries we could eat when he woke. Absolute fear overwhelmed me. Walking through a mysterious, dangerous, unknown forest isn't exactly a walk in the park.
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I was just about to pick a glossy, pink berry when a huge bear came crashing through the bushes straight at me! The bear's head was as big as a boulder. Its small, beady, black eyes stared blankly at me. I could tell it had problems with seeing in the dark, but it could hear every little sound the forest made. That was a problem. The bear was now inches away from me. I sprinted as fast as I could to the nearest tree and scrambled up it. Here's a pointer for future reference. Don't climb a tree when a wild bear is chasing you. The bear tore the tree apart as it used its claws to easily climb after me.
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The bear was now right under me. I closed my eyes and willed the bear to kill me quick. But it never came. I saw Michael on top of the bear that was three times his size. He took his knife out of its sheath and slashed at the bear's underbelly. It screeched and fled the area.
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After I jumped off the tree, I hugged Michael and felt his heart pound and his unsteady breathing. He held my hand and said, "Hedy, the forest is too dangerous for you. Please go home. I know you escaped your home because you didn't want your parents to suffer, but they watched you grow up from the minute you were born. They have cared for you ever since. They care only for you. They love you. You don't want to just throw that away, do you?" His eyes were pleading.
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I said, "They're going to get their house taken away if they keep me."
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Sympathy swam in his eyes. He said, "Yes, but you must go back."
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I asked, "If I go back, will you come with me?"
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He answered, "No. I'm happier and safer here than I am in a city. Let's go back."
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I stopped him and said, "Can I at least stay with you for another day?" Michael hesitated but said, "OK. But do you promise to go back?"
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I nodded.
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We walked for about half an hour until we reached his shelter, the tree that he was staring at when he had fallen unconscious. The sunset was so beautiful against the beaten-up old tree. The radiant colors showed with such brilliance. The colors blended together so beautifully. Red, pink, orange, blue, and purple washed the sky. I had just noticed that there was a crack in the tree's roots that was big enough for a person to fit through. He climbed through it. I followed him into the damp, dark, shelter. The space in the trunk of the tree was limited, but we both fit. We both fell asleep instantly.
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The next day was great. We had such fun together. A close bond had developed between Michael
and I.
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The morning after that at sunrise, we headed back to civilization. We walked hand-in-hand to the city that was my home. I hugged him tightly and never wanted to let go. He was like a brother I never had. I said my last good-bye and headed home with tears in my eyes.
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When I got home, I felt emptiness in my heart. I opened the door to my room and stood with my mouth-open. I was rooted to the spot because in my very room stood Michael. He had said that he wouldn't come back to the city after what happened to him, but there he was.
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He said, "I never want to leave you. I would sacrifice anything for you."
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From that moment on, we lived together as neighbors. Michael had found his own family. Let’s just say his name was now Michael Robinson. Our lives were so wonderful after we'd met each other; it was almost like it was meant to be.