I

- I don't want our child to start like this...

- So you want me to quit everything I already achieved?

- I'll go alone then...

- I won't let you. Fine, I'll go with you, but I'll return here

- Thank you...

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The stars shined in the dark sky with a crescent moon in a late November evening. The cold wind blew the fallen leaves from the sidewalk as a figure slowly walked on it. It was a young man, in his teens. He was hurrying somewhere, making big fast steps, as his mind was occupied with thoughts about what he's going to do. He stopped under a street lamp to take a look at his notebook. It was scribbled all over with sentences or single words, but he knew how to put them together to understand what he needed to. He looked around as he heard steps nearing to him from behind and smiled.
- Paul, why do you try to find out what your father's notes mean? - a young girl approached the boy.
- Cause I want to look him in the eyes and these notes are the only thing that lead to him - the boy answered with a slight grin as he stepped closer to the girl, closer than he would normally - The question is, why you keep following me, Lisa?
The girl looked away slightly, not sure if she should back off, feeling uncomfortable at the close distance. Paul kept looking over her face, not intending to back off.
- Tell me, why? - he repeated the question.
- Cause I don't want to loose you... - she whispered laying her head against his chest. But she said that too quiet for him to hear.
She soon felt his hands on her back, hugging carefully. She knew how much he was obsessed with the thought of finding his father. After all, his mother died soon after his birth, so maybe it was natural that he wanted to find someone blood related. She, on the other hand, wanted him to settle with her as someone close. Sadly, she was too shy and he was too stubborn at their goals.
- I have to go - he said after taking his hands off her back.
He never considered her more than just a good friend or a younger sister.
- Can I go with you?
- You can, but I don't want you to go. - he said those words, before turning away from her and continuing on his way.
For a while she stood there, still not sure what she was supposed to do now. "Follow or not?" was the question in her head, repeating itself, over and over again. In the end her shy nature took over and she just took one last look the way her friend went, before turning around and heading home.
- Next time.. I'll tell him next time... - she whispered to herself on her way home. Shivering in the cold air and at the cold emptiness in her heart.

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A dim light of fire was seen form an abandoned storage house. A few people passing it in that cold night, would have said that it's probably just some homeless people finding a way to warm up in this weather. In the end no-one could know that someone was opening the already forgotten gates.

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The next day she found out at school that Paul was found unconscious in the old storage house and was taken to the hospital.
After the lessons she went to see him, hoping he was alright. It took her sometime to find his room in the hospital. It was a white room, like most of them, with two bed in it and only one occupied. The lights were off, except for the dim lights of stars as it was already dark. She stepped closer to his bed.
- Paul? - she asked quietly trying to find the light switch. - Are you awake?
Finally she turned on the lights, she turned her face to see him, hoping for his calm smile as he was sleeping. But instead she saw his eyes wide opened.

Cold, icy... lifeless...