He lay on the cold road…
Small.
Hurt.
Alone.
Waiting…
For someone to stop.
His name is Hot Wheels.
And the world around him…
Always felt too big.
But that night…
It felt even bigger.
Colder.
Further away.
He lay on the pavement.
Unmoving.
Lights from passing cars…
Flashed across his eyes.
Then disappeared.
Engines rushed past.
Tires whispered against the road.
Everything kept moving.
Everything…
Except him.
Hot Wheels stayed where he was.
Not by choice.
But because his body…
Wouldn’t listen anymore.
So he did the only thing he could.
He stayed still.
Quiet.
Hoping…
In some small, instinctive way…
That if he didn’t move…
Nothing else would hurt him.
Fear wrapped around him.
Not loud.
Not visible.
But deep.
In the way his heart raced.
In the way his body trembled.
In the way each breath came…
Uncertain.
Like he didn’t know…
If another would follow.
He didn’t understand…
How he got there.
He didn’t understand…
Why no one stopped.
All he knew…
Was the cold beneath him.
And the emptiness around him.
In that vast, silent night…
He was completely alone.
And what he wanted…
Wasn’t much.
Just warmth.
To replace the cold.
Just gentle arms.
Instead of endless space.
Just one moment…
Where he could feel…
That he mattered.
But the night kept going.
Long.
Endless.
Silent.
And still…
No one came.
Until…
Something changed.
Not loudly.
Not suddenly.
But differently.
Footsteps slowed.
Then stopped.
Careful hands reached down.
Not rushed.
Not harsh.
But gentle.
Kind.
When they lifted him…
His body trembled more.
He didn’t understand.
Didn’t know where he was going.
But something shifted.
The cold…
Was gone.
In its place…
Warmth.
Safety.
And something he hadn’t felt…
In so long.
He wasn’t alone anymore.