"We danced all our lives and yet you still forgot me."

There are times in everyone's life when one wonders if it's all worth it. When days are dark and lacking in hope and joy. Sometimes it can be when there's all the sunshine in the world but a single sentence ruins it all. Tyler Reynolds has grown to know that feeling at all times.

His daily routine is filled with doctors and psychiatrists that poke and prod at him, asking questions that he thinks should really remain unanswered if he wants his life to stay personal. His knowledge is tried and his patience tested, drawing him dangerously close to snapping at the professionals. The only thing that keeps him sane is the occasional visit from Doctor Lake, the name of the woman he had met upon his awakening.

She makes sure to ensure his comfort with her questions and actions, and when she does pop by, she always brings something for him to do and some pleasant conversation. It's always in her best interest to give him someone safe to confide in, and she allows him to chat about what he wants. She knows that he's a child and ensures that he's sheltered enough from the things outside the hospital room.

While she is his light in dark times, he still keeps to himself a lot. He is given schoolwork and lessons to do in his mass of free time. But everything placed in front of him is entirely foreign and bizarre. It makes him furious that he cannot comprehend what everyone else can so easily complete.

And so, he quite often abandons the sheets until Doctor Lake comes by, a time in which he can ask questions and have them simply answered. His amusement is gained through small actions, and he's discovered that he has a very intense mischievous streak in his stoic attitude, having convinced his only friend to replace the sugar in the break room with table salt. In his opinion, it went quite well. The amount of times he watched doctors and nurses spit out their coffee was well worth the lecture he received.

But he's been here for several weeks, and there's no news or discovery of any relations of his. Internally, his soul murmurs depressingly, and he knows that there's no-one for him here. Anyone he knew or loved is gone and he feels no guilt for that, only an emptiness that swallows him whole. Almost as though he failed to do anything about it.

As the door creaks open, he looks up from his pile of equations, a pencil between his teeth as he halts his pondering. Without even seeing their face, he knows who it is. Barbara Lake will step in with a paper bag of food and a mug of coffee, a tired look on her face. Call it a sixth sense, if you will.

And, behold, the woman walks through the door with exactly those items and expression, a small smile on her lips as she regards the boy. 

He doesn't quite know how he does it, but it's instinctual and unintentional. It's just like how he can name what she has for supper down to the individual ingredient without peeking at the food.

"'Evening," he greets kindly, removing the pencil from his mouth to scribble down an answer to his question.

Barbara nods in acknowledgement, taking her usual seat next to him before setting down her meal. "Hello, Tyler."

He hesitates, staring down at his paper with an intense glare. It's not that he's ignoring her, just that he hates mathematics. "How's yer night been?"

She shrugs slightly, but the conflict in her eyes gives her away. "Uneventful for the most part."

Hearing her lie, he drops his pencil and stares at her, frowning slightly. "Now, Doctor Lake, ye know I can tell when ye lie, right?"

She chuckles at his ability and waves off his concern, knowing that he's unintentionally seen it as a bigger issue than it is. "My night has been uneventful, but there's been a discussion of where you're going to go when you're released."

The boy backs down immediately, ducking his head in apology, though his interest is piqued by the mention of his release. "My apologies, then."

A brow is raised in question. This is new. "Do you not want to know anything about it then?"

He meets her eyes with a gaze equal to liquid gold. "Indeed I would, ma'am."

"Since you're nearly old enough to be living on your own, the question of having you placed in foster care has arisen," Barbara starts, speaking softly so she doesn't risk setting him off. "Social services are already being spoken to decide the matter."

Tyler frowns, annoyed by the fact that he's been left out of the loop. It's not that he dislikes the idea of being in the care of someone else, but he hates the fact that he'll end up staying with a stranger.

"But," she continues, a small smile on her lips, "I've considered several things and I think I can take you in."

He brightens up significantly. He knows her. She's no stranger to him and he'd feel at ease under her care.

"It'll take a little while, but it should be best if you stayed with a trained doctor in your condition."

He nods frantically, a sharp grin spreading across his cheeks in his excitement. His soul sings softly, a quiet call of glee that has not been heard for many years. Even the encased corner of his mind hums in harmonic agreement. This is something that his whole being believes is necessary.

"That would be completely and utterly perfect," he says, his baritone voice rumbling in his chest. "Thank ye."

Barbara smiles, taking her coffee in her hands as she settles comfortably. "So long as you're not against sharing the house with one other."

"Ye mean Jim?" he cocks his head, his grin falling into a curious quirk. "That'll be fine, truly."

She nods, taking his words into account. Perhaps a relationship between someone close to his age will help him more than she can. Or maybe this is just a wound for time to heal. "I'll see what I can do," she decides.

He shoots her an appreciative grin before returning to finding 'x'. His digging will have to wait until he's free, but he'll get there. Much sooner than he anticipates.

I hope y'all are enjoying.