But now, the boy had been with Little One for almost six years. He had grown completely accustomed to its presence.
Because he was so used to it, he had become somewhat insensitive to its presence.
When had Little One disappeared?
He hadn't noticed at all.
Remembering how he'd just talked to himself for so long... the boy smacked his head hard.
What should he do?
Little One was gone.
Could it have... fallen off somewhere along the way?
Though the guess seemed absurd, he turned and ran back down the stairs.
After only a few steps, he stopped again.
He returned to where he'd started.
Then he slowly walked back down, one step at a time.
His eyes stayed fixed on the ground.
He made it all the way to the bus stop.
The sky had already grown dark.
Streetlights cast a hazy yellow glow.
It fell across the boy's bewildered face.
Little One...
Could it be at school?
The boy pressed his lips together.
The thought made his heart race.
He anxiously watched for the bus.
One bus went by.
Then another.
It's here!
The boy's eyes lit up.
Just as he was about to get on—
"Xiao Yi!"
The boy turned around.
"Mom?"
Then he noticed the sweat covering the woman's forehead, and the mix of worry and relief on her face.
He felt uneasy. "Mom—"
"You little rascal, where have you been?!"
The woman shouted angrily.
The bus engine roared to life.
The boy whipped around and saw it driving away into the distance.
"Huh?!"
He couldn't help taking a step toward the departing bus.
The woman grabbed the boy's arm and led him a few steps inside.
"Wait a moment."
"I'll call your dad."
"I'll tell him we've found