Three days passed.
It wasn't long, but somehow it felt like forever.
As I ate breakfast with my mom, I couldn't stop thinking about the park.
"You're going back today?" she asked with a gentle smile.
I nodded.
"…Yeah."
She chuckled softly.
"I guess you really made a friend."
A small smile appeared on my face.
"…I guess I did."
After finishing breakfast, I slipped on my shoes and headed outside. The afternoon sun warmed the streets as I followed the familiar path. With every step, my excitement grew.
I hoped she'd be there.
When I reached the park, I looked around.
Then I saw her.
Mia stood near the swings. The moment our eyes met, she smiled and waved.
"Cody!"
I smiled back.
"Hi."
Just like before, we spent the afternoon running around the playground. We laughed, played tag, and chased each other around the trees. For a while, it felt like nothing else in the world mattered.
Then—
A group of children entered the park.
They looked about our age.
The moment Mia noticed them, her smile faded.
They walked over and stopped in front of us.
"Mia," one of the girls said. "What are you doing?"
"…Nothing," Mia answered quietly.
The group turned toward me.
One boy looked me up and down.
"…Who's he?"
Before Mia could answer, another boy laughed.
"Wait…"
He pointed at me.
"Is this your friend?"
The others started giggling.
"This loser?"
The laughter echoed around me.
I looked at Mia, waiting for her to laugh. Waiting for her to tell them they were wrong.
Waiting for her to say…
"He's my friend."
Instead, she lowered her head.
The silence felt endless.
Then she slowly shook her head.
"…No."
My heart sank.
"He's not my friend."
The words hit harder than I could understand.
Just then, another boy called out to her.
"Mia! Come on!"
She immediately looked toward him.
There was something different in her eyes.
She liked him.
She glanced back at me one last time.
For a moment, I thought she was going to say something.
Anything.
But she didn't.
She turned around…
And walked away.
I stood there alone, watching her disappear with the others.
That was the last time I ever saw Mia as a child.
She never came back to the park.
And even though I didn't understand it back then…
That was the day something inside me quietly broke.
END OF CHAPTER 2