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The confession brought a quiet moment amongst us, the laughter subsiding as they took in my words. "I think he's the one," I admitted, looking down at my hands. "We started as enemies in the office, but now... I can't imagine my life without him."
"I knew it!" Mike declared dramatically, his voice full of triumph. "I always knew you two would end up together!"
Elijah giggled, clapping Mike on the back. "Oh, here we go. The great love guru has spoken."
Mike winked, grinning at us with a pout. "You mock, but I'm telling you, I have a gift for these things. It's always been a curse, though, because no one ever believes me until it's too late."
He then dramatically held a hand to his forehead, sighing heavily. "Such is the burden of being a visionary."
The lively atmosphere was suddenly replaced with a chilly quiet as Mike's hands clutched at empty air where his beloved teddy bear should have been. The cheerful tones of our picnic seemed to drain away.
"Hey guys, where's my bear?" Mike's voice, suddenly edged with panic, broke through the haze of our post-story-telling lull. The atmosphere shifted dramatically, the radiant warmth of the day losing its charm to Mike's rising anxiety. He scanned the grassy expanse around us, his eyes wide and frantic.
"Why don't you just ask your Daddy to buy you a new one?" I suggested, giggling a little. "That old thing looked half dead anyway." The words were out of my mouth before I could think.
To my surprise, Mike's eyes welled up with tears, and he shook his head vehemently. "You don't understand, Lina," he said, his voice choked. "It's not just a toy. That bear... it's all I have left of my parents."
I felt my heart plummet at his words. "Oh, Mike, I..." I started, but he held up a hand to stop me.
"No, Lina, let me explain," he said, taking a deep breath before he began. "That bear was more than a toy to me. It was my comfort during those dark, lonely days at the orphanage. It's an important link to my parents, to the family I barely remember. I was just five when they gave it to me. A Christmas gift. My dad worked late every night for days to afford it. And my mom, she sewed its little red vest herself."
The picture Mike painted with his words was bittersweet.
"We'd take a family photo every Christmas with the bear," he said, a sad smile tugging at his lips. "It was a tradition. But then... then they were gone." His voice broke on the last words, and he had to pause for a moment to collect himself.
"When I was ten, my parents... they died in an accident," he continued, his voice barely more than a whisper. "I was left alone in the world. But I had the bear. I held onto it. It was my only source of comfort in the cold, lonely days in the orphanage. I would tell it stories, share my dreams and fears, and hold it close on the bad days. It was a symbol of the love my parents had for me.
"It became worn over time, but that only made me love it more. It reminded me that no matter how worn it gets, my love for my parents only increases with time. And now it's gone. Oh, God… I feel like I've lost them all over again, and I could do nothing to stop it. Nothing’s ever going to be the same now."
"Mike, I'm so sorry. I had no idea," I said, my voice hoarse. His bear, a symbol of parental love, was now lost, and with it, a piece of Mike seemed lost too.
The crunching sound of footsteps on gravel reached our ears. Turning, we saw Joe sauntering towards us with his usual teasing grin. "Aww, what's this?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "My little Mikey, all quiet? You aren’t this quiet even when you’re sick. Are you feeling quite alright? Did you catch Lina's fever?"
He extended a hand to touch Mike's forehead, expecting his usual indignant squirm and playful banter. But instead, Mike looked up at his Daddy with teary eyes and blurted out, "My bear... It's gone, Daddy."
For a moment, Joe's teasing demeanor faltered, replaced by a sudden look of horror. He pulled Mike into a tight embrace as the realization hit him. "Oh, Mikey," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm so sorry, baby boy.”
For a few moments, the only sounds were Mike's muffled sobs into his Daddy's shoulder and the distant rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. Joe rocked Mike back and forth gently, his hand rubbing soothing circles on his back. "It's okay, darling. It's okay. I’m here. Daddy's here," he whispered, trying to provide a safe and comforting space for his Little.
Meanwhile, Elijah and I reached for our stuffies, holding them close as we watched our friend in distress. Instinctively, we moved closer to our Daddies, seeking comfort in their familiar warmth. As we gathered in a comfort circle, our hands found each other's.
Elijah, ever the empathetic soul, offered Mike a reassuring pat on the back. "We'll find your bear, Mike. Don't you worry," he said, his voice firm and steady.
I, on the other hand, couldn't stop the tears from welling up in my eyes. I reached out, squeezing his hand in a show of silent solidarity.
"Oh, Mike," I whispered, trying to sound more hopeful than I felt. "We'll find it. Your bear can't have gone far."
Joe, holding his Little, wiped away his tears gently with a tender look. "Mikey, we'll do everything we can to find your bear," he promised, his voice layered with conviction. "This bear means the world to you, I know. And you mean the world to me. We won't let you lose this piece of your world."
Mike nodded, sniffling and clinging tighter to him. "I miss it, Daddy," he admitted, his voice small. "I feel like I've lost them all over again."
"It's alright, baby boy," Joe soothed, pulling him closer. "You haven't lost them. You will never lose them. They're right here," he said, placing Mike's hand over his heart. "And we're here, too. We're your family, Mikey. And family sticks together, always."
As we all grasped the true gravity of the situation, Elijah and I sprang into action.
"Alright, team," Elijah started, trying to lift the mood, "Time to turn on your eagle eyes. Teddy Bear, prepare to be found!"
Mike managed a shaky smile at his friend's bravado, but it was clear his heart wasn't in it.
