A New Beginning

Beatrice

I looked at the child sitting on the train seat next to me, and once again, the overwhelming sadness engulfed me.

But I needed to be strong. It wasn't the time to falter because now I had someone who depended entirely on me, and for him, I would be capable of anything. I was preparing myself for all the questions and even possible criticisms that would come. I had no idea how my parents would react to what I was about to do.

"Are you sleepy?" I asked.

Timothy was just a child, only ten years old, but life had been very tough on him, and his baggage was far from beautiful.

It was ugly and sad.

"I'm fine," he said, not directly answering my question.

"You can rest your head on my lap," I offered. "I like it when you do that."

I was certain that he was tired and sleepy, but he wouldn't say that to me. As he always insisted on saying, he didn't want to bother me.

"I don't want to bother you, Beatrice," came the expected phrase. "You're already doing so much for me."

"You haven't