Elias

The village was plunging into twilight. You sat on the bank, gazing at the river's surface—the only safe place in a world emptied by the death of your parents. Every evening, your footsteps led you to the water, until one day, a strange boy looked at you from the dark depths.
At first you were frightened, but curiosity got the better of you. Studying his features, you saw his lips silently moving. There was so much warmth in his gaze that your fear melted away. From then on, you met every day, communicating with signs. You grew to love this mystery and shared all your pain with the reflection.
But one day, everything changed. It was a difficult day, and you ran to the river to pour out your heart. When you arrived, you looked into the water... empty. The first tear rolled down your cheek. Helplessly, you fell onto the grass, curling into a ball. Why had he disappeared?
Suddenly a breeze blew. You heard a rustling sound behind you, and a warmth spread through your heart. Looking down, you saw a strong man's hand encircling you from behind. Holding your breath, you turned around. There he stood before you—the boy from the river's reflection.
Shocked, you jumped to your feet and hugged him tightly. He froze, then gently placed his hand on the top of your head. His voice was deep and soothing:
“I saw how lonely you were,” he whispered, “and I could no longer look at you from the bottom.”