The sun shone brightly, casting its gentle light over the busy streets. People hurried past-some rushing to work, others to school- each lost in their own world.
Amid the chaos, a small boy sat at the side of a store. His brown hair swayed with the soft breeze, and his eyes were fixed on something only he seemed to notice.
He stood and approached an middle aged woman who looked troubled, her eyes scanning the ground anxiously.
"Is something wrong?" he asked softly.
The woman turned to him. The boy was dirty, his hair untamed, and his clothes nothing more than tattered rags. His skin was pale, almost lifeless, but his eyes glimmered with a strange, vivid spark. There was something quietly beautiful about him, despite his appearance.
"I lost my ring," she said. "I've been looking everywhere."
For a moment, the boy froze, unsure what to do. Then he nodded and ran a short distance. He returned moments later, holding the ring carefully in his hands.
"You found it!" the woman exclaimed, relief washing over her face. "Where was it?"
He smiled shyly. "It was on the bench… not too far from here."
Her eyes softened. "How did you know it was there?"
Roy hesitated, glancing around as if afraid someone might overhear. "Well… there are animals around me. They… they help me. But people think I'm crazy when I say so."
The woman paused, then smiled warmly. "Tell your friends I thank them too. Here, take this as a reward."
She handed him some coins. Roy hesitated, then accepted them quietly. After a brief nod, they parted ways.
The boy ran down a narrow alley, shadows stretching around him. At the end, a small open space appeared between the buildings. An old man sat in one corner, surrounded by a few others.
"Ah! Roy, you're here!" the man called.
Roy approached and sat beside him.
"Are you feeling better?" the man asked.
"Yes," Roy replied. "The fever is gone. Did you get anything?"
Roy nodded, handing over the coins.
The old man studied him for a moment. "Go earn some more before the day ends. And remember, don't tell anyone about your… friends. They won't understand. It could make you seem crazy."
Roy hesitated briefly, a tiny flicker of doubt crossing his mind, but he trusted the man's words. Nodding, he set off again, unaware of how easily he had been influenced.
----
Night fell over the city, the moon and stars casting a pale glow over the empty streets. A cold breeze rustled through the alleys, carrying the faint smell of smoke from a distant fire.
Near the fire, a group of men had gathered, their faces flickering in the dancing flames. Among them sat the old man from before, laughing and sharing stories.
"Did you see that kid? He does whatever I tell him!" one of the men said, shaking his head in disbelief.
"You shouldn't hog him to yourself," another replied, grinning. "Let us have some fun with him too."
"Honestly," a third man chuckled, "I thought they were exaggerating at first. But he really does whatever you ask."
----
Knock! Knock!
"Come in."
An old man sat by the window, the fading sunlight brushing across his weathered face as the day slipped toward dusk.
A middle‑aged woman stepped inside. She was the one whom Roy helped, closing the door behind him with a soft click. She looked at the old man at the other side of the desk.
"You might want to listen carefully to this," he said, lowering his voice. "I spoke to a boy today. And… let's just say he mentioned something strange. He said he has imaginary animal friends around him. Ones no one else can see."
The old man had a faint smile on his face but didn't show it properly.
"I see," he murmured. "And where is this boy now?"