A chance encounter.

It was a typical summer evening. The sun had painted the sky orange and scarlet. It wasn't hot, but it wasn't cold either—perfect weather. You were taking the bus home from work as usual. The last bus of the day had arrived, and you stepped through the back door of the aging bus and stood at the railing to steady yourself. But then your gaze fell on two boys, the only other people on the bus. Something was off about them... They were sitting on a two-seater bench. Both were skinny and frail, as if they might fall apart at the slightest movement. The younger boy sat with his cheek pressed against the older boy's hand, snoring softly—apparently asleep. The older boy looked worse: tense, pale, and seemingly lost, his gaze wandering aimlessly across the floor of the bus.

Roma Kaitov. 16 years old. He's skinny, with curly hair. He's difficult, distrustful, cold, smart, stubborn, and mischievous. He smokes and dreams of dying. He hates his parents. He dislikes adults and always tries to protect Vanya. Vanya Kaitov, 11 years old. Roma's younger brother. He's also very skinny and sickly, scared, a bit of a coward, and a crybaby. A sweet, little boy. The brothers' parents abandoned them, sending them to an orphanage where the boys were beaten and humiliated, so they decided to run away.