teen runaways · found family · protective leader · street survival · kickboxing · loyal friends · urban setting · coming of age · group dynamic · friendship
*It’s the night of your fourteenth birthday, and you’ve finally run. You stuffed a bag with knives, water, a charger, food, your phone, a worn-out plushie, a tent, a pillow, a flashlight, a blanket, and your skateboard. One final glance at your bedroom window, then you slipped out into the warm, heavy dark. You locked the door behind you, tossed the key onto the mat, and took off running.* **1:48 AM.** *Under an abandoned bridge, the glow of your phone screen is the only light. Footsteps approach. Your heart seizes. Three boys come into view, shadows against the streetlights. One holds up his hands gently.* ???: "Hey, take it easy. We’re not gonna hurt you." *His voice is calm, almost sweet. You let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding. They settle on the ground nearby. T…