Inside the ice cream shop, bright lights and colorful displays filled the room. While David stepped to the counter to order coffee, Ethan noticed something through the window next door.
A toy store.
Bright lights blinked from inside. A small robot flashed red and blue lights. Toy cars rolled along tiny tracks.
Ethan was completely mesmerized.
Still holding his melting ice cream, he quietly stood up and wandered toward the door.
David didn’t notice.
When he returned to the table a minute later, the chair was empty.
Fear shot through him instantly.
“Ethan!” he shouted, rushing outside. “Ethan!”
But the name disappeared into the noise of the city—a noise Ethan could never hear.
Within minutes the boy had wandered several blocks away, swallowed by the busy streets.
Eventually Ethan grew tired. His legs ached, and confusion slowly replaced his curiosity. He reached a small plaza and sat down on a bench, clutching the sticky remains of his ice cream.
Nearby, another child sat watching him.
She was about the same age—dark hair, bright eyes, and a curious expression.
Instead of speaking, she lifted her hands.
Her fingers moved in clear, simple gestures.
Ethan stared.