Broken Boy

A Tiny Bildungsroman

Image by Leon Pauleikhoff

The first time I ran away, Dr. Hao broke every bone in my body. He’d created me, he said, so I belonged to him.

Eventually, I escaped. But the outside was too much for a malnourished mutant. I made my home in shadows, and ate what I could take.

Then, one day, I saw him.

I’d heard of love, but never felt it before.

He was big and black and beautiful, with sharp, hungry teeth.

I reached out. When I moved, he moved. Our hands touched and I felt glass.

That magnificent beast was me.

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