At only eight years old, Tomas' life was unexpectedly and irrevocably shattered into pieces.

The devastating news had broken when he had been playing with his Justice League action figures.

His parents' plane had crashed into the Caribbean Sea.

No bodies were found.

His Shazam doll, that had dropped to the floor once he heard the news, was quickly abandoned once strange people crowded into his family's house in America and dragged him away from there.

Not even his screams would appease these people who called themselves 'social workers'.

Tomas, who was considered brilliant even as a young child, wondered where he and his brother would live from now on. He had been told horror stories from bullies in elementary of many siblings torn apart by the American foster care system and the abuse they had to undergo.

Siblings were separated, that was simply standard protocol.

Was he and his brother to be taken in by a distant relative or adopted by new families? And a greater question lay ahead, was his life to be a tragedy after another? Would this mark the beginning of worse things to come?

With a sudden whirlwind of anxiety enveloping this poor child, it was no wonder he could not stop bawling his eyes out.

The young orphan cried out, "I just want my mommy...", hoping somehow in this universe that the wish of speaking to her could be granted...just one more time at least.

A strange feminine voice responded back, "I know child, but they are gone."

Looking up, he observed an older black woman taking his hand and gently lifting him from the floor.

Her kind smile calmed him a little, prompting him to stay still as she explained that she was their social worker and worked for the state.

"Do you have any family that can take care of you now?", she inquired, her eyes now pointed upwards as if reciting from memory.

"No," he answered, sniffing into a now dejected-looking empty tissue box. "I don't think so."

However, remembering something that his family told him to say should strangers ask of possible familial connections, he added, "My parents are immigrants. They left family back over there in Germany when they left to Argentina."

"And now...I'm alone," he stated as he broke down and burst into more tears, a spout of tears flowing from his eyes down to the shaggy beige carpet below.

"Alright, child. I'll come back after I get more papers. Then we're going for a little ride, ok?" she whispered into his ear, patting him on the back before she hurriedly exited out.

Indeed, he barely registered her comment, but knew that from now on, his brother was all he had in this world. He had to hold on to family no matter what.

Even if he had to run away.

Author's note: All the other chapters from now on are longer-at least 1000 words.