Every morning before school, Finn runs outside barefoot—even in the cold—to find her. He talks to her like she’s a classmate, telling her about spelling tests and wondering aloud what clouds are made of. She follows him like a loyal puppy, waiting by the porch until he returns home.
At first, we thought it was simply adorable. Then we realized it was something much deeper.
After Finn’s mom moved away last year, he changed. His laughter faded. He barely touched his favorite pancakes. It was heartbreaking to watch. Then, one day, a tiny puff of yellow wandered into our yard—a little chicken we would later name Nugget—and everything shifted.
Finn smiled again. He ate. He slept. He laughed. All thanks to this small, unexpected companion.
But yesterday, Nugget went missing.
We searched everywhere—the coop, the woods, the roadside. No feathers, no tracks. Nothing. Finn cried himself to sleep that night, clutching a photo of Nugget in his small hand.
And then, this morning—there she was.
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