“What’s your name?” the foreign being asked, touching the crying boy’s hand.

“A-Addai,” the boy answered, gulping down a sobbing.

"Nice to meet you, Addai," the being cheerfully said.

Addai looked at the being and rubbed his eyes.

It was impossible to discern what that entity was or who it could be, but one thing was sure: it was bright and warm.

“What’s your name?” Addai asked, and the being took his hand, helping him stand.

“A friend!” the being beamed, and its appearance started clearing as if the brightness was fading and slowly revealing the image…

… or at least its outlines.

It was a kid, not much younger than him.

Their hair was soft and short, but its colors were impossible to discern because the kid was more like a light being. Their facial features weren't visible, but their eyes and smiles were very much perceptible, as well as their body.

“What… are you?” Addai asked, looking puzzled.

“A boy, duh,” the kid chuckled. “Can’t you see the cool jumpers my mom sorted?” he showed his looks, but there were only light and outlines - and no details at all.

So, Addai squinted his eyes… and nothing.

The kid looked at Addai a bit confused, but his smile was still on his face, even though he was a bit disappointed that his friend couldn't see his new favorite looks.

"Hey, Addai," the kid called, and Addai stopped squinting his eyes, turning his attention to their 'face.' "Why were you cryin’? Are you upset?” he asked.

Addai bit his lower lips slightly before answering. “I… I’m lost…” he confessed.

“Lost?”

“Yes… I don’t know where my home is,” he looked at his feet and noticed something very… odd.

He was wearing an uniform.

It was black, tall-necked and long-sleeved. There was a tag attached to his arm. His shoes… where were they? He patted his own cheeks and found them covered in band-aids - and some spots stung.

What was going on?

He patted his own hair. It was still fluffy, of course, but it was longer, and there were no shaved sides.

Was he… a kid?

“Hehe, you’re cute,” the other kid chuckled, looking at Addai’s actions.

“Eh?” and somehow Addai’s cheeks couldn’t stop but blush a bit.

“Let’s look for your home then!” the kid beamed and took Addai’s hand again.

He pulled Addai to an unknown road, path, whatever.

Their surroundings were a mystery, but it was pleasant and surprisingly bright.

He squinted his eyes, and now he could see that a few shadows gained clearer outlines.

There were butterflies, flowers, and trees, also, there was a small pond they passed by at the beginning of their walk. Ahead, nothing seemed clear for Addai to see. Everything was blurry, and all he could see perfectly was the kid's hand and body, once it was closer. Still, he could feel the warm breeze and the ruffling of the leaves, as well as the mysterious kid's joy, translated into giggles and shouts of happiness as they now ran on that path.

Addai couldn’t avoid the puddles and the crunchy leaves piles they stepped on. Somehow, it was good, and the kid encouraged him to always do more and enjoy that contagious joy while they were following that odd path.

Then, the kid released his hand.

The kid was joyful as always and seemed happy at the view, but Addai couldn't see it clearly, so, he squinted his eyes once again, and maybe that was the trick.

"Your home!" the kid beamed, pointing in a specific direction.

“W-Where?!”

"Here," the kid took one of Addai's hands and placed right on something.

A heartbeat. It was warm.

A heartbeat. It was calm.

A heartbeat. It was… familiar.

"Go," the kid reassured.

Slowly, he pushed Addai to the beating thing's direction

 and showed the way...

... but his damn eyes...

It didn’t matter how much Addai squinted his eyes, and his surroundings were still foggy and hazy. To make things worse, everything turned dark as if someone had blindfolded him.

“Kid?” Addai called, but no answers were heard. “Hello?” he voiced, but the only sound heard was the heartbeat.

He stepped forward. The heartbeat was louder.

He stepped forward again. The heartbeat was even louder.

He tripped but held on to something. Was it… soft?

The heartbeat was now faster.

Faster… and faster…

Then, it was completely mute. No heartbeat at all. 

Nothing could be seen around him nor felt. Emptiness.

"Aw, don't cry..." a familiar voice said, filled with a hypnotic gentleness.

The scenery glitched. Once dark, then light.

Addai could feel his eyes screaming in agony after that due to how bad his eyesight had become. All he could see was a foggy scene. 

A person's photograph. A child's photograph.

It was like an old movie scene playing melancholically. Addai had watched that before, but his mind was surely playing games with him.

"See? I'm here! You found me," the kid in front of him said with a bright smile sketched on their face.

"Wha...?"

Slim, warm hands touched his, dropping the ball they were holding before. "You promised me to find me. You didn't forget it, did you?"

In a loud gasp, Addai caught his breath and opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was a boy. His eyes were widened, and his body language was in a state of alert. Beside him, bandages, cotton, and a first-aid kit were opened. He was as shocked as Addai was.

“Mine?” Addai called, his voice trembling.

No, he’s “Home”. The mysterious entity echoed in Addai’s ear before fading.