"Good night."
"Sweet dreams."
"Yeah, yeah."
Mallow woke in the middle of the night with tears soaking his pillow, unable to remember whatever unsettling dream had made him so upset. But he still felt it. The feeling of being abandoned, that he was ever so close to finding out what had happened. He refused to accept that he may be an orphan, that he would come across the graves of his parents instead of what he had always wanted. He wanted a family. He wanted to be accepted and loved. Yet, trying to break free of the doubtful thoughts that plagued him made him feel even more alone...
A knock at the door made him jump a little. Sliding off the bed, he walked to the door and opened it a crack. "Who's there?" He whispered, his voice sounding as pathetic as he thought was possible.
"It's me..." Peach replied. Mallow nodded and opened the door wider. She hesitated, glancing behind herself, before entering the room. The door closed behind her, slowly, as to not wake up any light sleepers. She spotted his pillow and the bits of moisture on it, then looked back to him. "What's wrong, Mallow?" She questioned, kneeling down to his level.
He stood there with tears still rolling from his eyes for what felt like a lifetime, going through some sort of internal conflict. Then he wrapped his arms around Peach and stayed there. After a moment of wondering what to do, she returned the comforting gesture.
The rain continued to pour, pattering on the roof in perfect rhythm to the boy's sobs.