The pouring rain hit hard, so much so that it hurt but the pain Wade was feeling was much worse. He walked aimlessly, all he had to do was move away from home. He was so angry with his mother that he ran away without wanting to hear another word.

Wade continued to advance unabated. He couldn't see an inch from him, between the rain and his tears. The people who passed by him were like spots of color.

«Wade!», he heard his name called, but continued on.

Suddenly he no longer felt the rain hitting him, he stopped and looked up. To his surprise he saw the bright red of an umbrella instead of the gray sky. The grip of a tight hand on his wrist forced him to turn away. «You're totally soaked. What are you– », Kyle was perplexed when he noticed Wade's red eyes. «You’re crying? What’s happening?» he asked worriedly.

Wade didn't answer. Kyle dragged him into the subway station. As soon as they were sheltered, he closed the umbrella and, with the sleeve of his sweatshirt, dried Wade's face.

Wade was so surprised by Kyle's behavior that he almost forgot why he was crying. They weren't that close, why was he so worried about him?

«What happened?» Kyle asked.

Wade wasn't sure he wanted to tell him something so personal, they weren't that close. But he needed to vent, or he would explode. And there he was, Kyle, genuinely interested in knowing how he was doing. So, finally, he opened up to him and told him what had happened. He had seen his mother in the company of another man and, when he had confronted her, she hadn't even bothered to deny it. In fact, she had confessed everything, that she had been seeing that man for months. That's why Wade was furious. «I told her she can't continue like this, doing it behind my father's back. They have to split up. I don't want to live a lie.»

Kyle hugged him. «I’m sorry.» he said in his ear, squeezing him tighter. «I know I can't do much, but I'm here for you, if you need me.»

Wade squeezed him back. A hug was just what he needed. A small gesture of affection that would not have eliminated the problem but which contributed to making it less scary and terrible.

«Shall I walk you home? Or do you want to stay a little longer?» Kyle asked, releasing him. «You up for it?»

Wade nodded. «Yes, I think I can do it.»

Kyle smiled slightly.

They headed out of the station. When they were in the square the sunlight almost blinded them.

It had stopped raining and the clouds had parted, leaving room for the sun's rays.

They walked without any rush. Wade was afraid that once he got home, he would go crazy and the fight with his mother would be inevitable. But sooner or later he had to return, he couldn't stay on the street forever. He couldn't take the easy way out and run away from the problem.

Before approaching the door, Kyle embraced him again, as if to give him the strength and courage to open it and cross the threshold. «It'll be fine. Things will work out, you'll see.» he whispered to Wade, then let him go. Kyle watched him reach the door.

Wade turned to look at him one last time. Kyle smiled sweetly at him and Wade waved before walking into the house.