Adrien didn't care that his father screamed his name as he bolted out of the front door. He ran as fast as his little legs allowed him. His father's words echoed in his mind. She's not coming back.
He ran to their favorite spot, to the willow tree in the park. He called out her name, hoping she'd be peek around the trunk of a tree and boop his nose like she had a million times before.
But she didn't.
The young boy slumped against the tree. Tears flowed from his eyes before he even realized he was crying. He wasn't aware of how much time passed, all he could feel was the empty coldness surrounding his heart.
She was gone.
"Are you okay?" a young voice called out
Adrien glanced up to see a small girl with jet black hair in a red dress. He pulled his knees in to his chest and shook his head.
He sensed the girl kneel down in front of him. He could hear her dig through a bag she must have had with her.
"Want a cookie?"
His eyes darted upward without his consent.
Her eyes were a sea of blue that drowned him in warmth almost instantly. A small blush arose on her cheeks as she handed him the treat.
"T-thanks." Adrien muttered, reaching for the cookie. She nodded.
"Do you wanna play with me?" She asked.
"N-no, no thanks." He sniffled, expecting her to leave. Instead, she shifted, moving to sit right next to him.
"No one should be alone. Especially when they're feeling unhappy."
"I'll be okay."
She looked at him, and he knew she could see right through that lie. There was a brief moment of silence before he felt a playful nudge.
"Hey, when should you take a cookie to the doctor?"
A confused look spread across Adrien's face. "What?"
"When it's feeling crummy." The girl smiled.
Adrien blinked, the corners of his mouth churning upward as he began to laugh. "That's pretty funny."
"Knew I would get you to smile!" The girl had a triumphant look on her face.
"ADRIEN AGRESTE!" his father pulled back the vines of the willow tree and was staring at him, an angry look on his face. "You are NEVER to leave the house without an escort. Come, we're going home."
"But-" Adrien didn't have a chance to speak as his father forcefully scooped him up and turned to leave, dropping his uneaten cookie in the process.
He looked over his father's shoulder to see the small girl looking at him with a concerned expression. He waved timidly goodbye, and she returned it with a small smile and wave of her own.
"Bye Adrien." He heard her say.
As his father carried him home, all the young boy thought about was how warm the small girl had made him feel despite the bitter coldness of loss that surrounded him.
It wasn't until he got all the way home that he realized he didn't even know her name.