Before

"What's your name" she asked the boy, walking closer to him.
"Name?" his questioned, wondering what she meant.
"What are you called? What did your family call you before... you know?"
He looked up at the sky, avoiding the piercing gaze of her eyes, "I don't have a name," his words came out slowly, as if he was testing the waters.
She smiled sweetly, "Why don't I call you One. Because you've always been alone."
He shrugged and turned away, stepping down from the platform and grabbing his backpack, she stood and watched him, un-moving.
"Are you coming?" he called out behind him, and she leapt from the platform, following him into the desolate city.