Althea and Hael arrived at Stella's house. Hael knocked on the door, and a few seconds later, Stella opened it.
—Oh, it's you again… Althea, right? —she said when she saw her.
—Yes, I'm Althea... but how do you know my name? I didn't tell you yesterday. —she replied with a slight smile and curiosity.
—Elion told me... and this time you seem to have a different companion —she added teasingly, looking at Hael—. Hello, Hael, how are you?
—Fine, Miss Stella —he replied in a measured voice, avoiding any kind of friction.
—You're still a bit grumpy, it seems—Stella said amusedly as she stepped aside to let them pass—. Come in.
—I'll wait outside —Hael said immediately, taking a step back.
—As you wish, Hael —Stella replied, without insisting.
—I won't be long —Althea said before entering.
—Do whatever you want… I don't care —Hael replied.
Stella sighed and closed the door.
Hael walked to the stairs, crossing his arms as he sat on the steps, staring at the sky. Little by little, his eyelids closed. He was so tired that it didn't take him long to fall asleep right there.
Inside the house, Stella took Althea to the room where Max was.
When she saw him, Althea's eyes lit up. Max was resting on a makeshift stretcher, one of his paws bandaged. He was still asleep.
—How is he? —she asked with concern, approaching cautiously.
—He's fine. He just hurt his paw. But since he's still a puppy, the blow knocked him unconscious. He'll be able to run again soon —Stella explained gently.
—Thank you… —Althea murmured, looking at Stella gratefully.
—It was my pleasure to help you —she replied.
Althea bent down and tenderly stroked Max's little head.
—I'm glad to see you again, Max…
As if he could hear her, Max slowly opened his eyes. Although weak, his gaze brightened when he saw her.
—Oh, it looks like the patient is awake —Stella said with a smile.
Althea hugged him carefully, feeling his little body tremble softly in her arms. They were together again.
—Why don't you take him outside for a while? —Stella suggested—. He's been in bed for a long time. He might want some fresh air.
—May I? — Althea asked, somewhat nervously.
—Of course. Take this blanket and wrap it around him so he doesn't move around too much. That way, there won't be any problems with his recovery —said Stella, handing it to her.
Althea wrapped Max in the blanket and lifted him carefully.
—Is this okay?
—Perfect, after your walk, you don't need to bring him back... his daddy will recover on his own with time —Stella nodded, guiding her to the door.
—Seriously, that's great —Althea looked down at Max —. Did you hear that, Max? We won't be separated anymore.
—That's right... and don't ever separate again — said Stella.
Stella opened the door, bent down, and stroked Max's head.
—Get well soon, little one. The next time I see you, I want you to be running and jumping around here.
Max responded with a soft bark.
—Goodbye, Stella.
—See you, Althea —she replied with a smile before closing the door.
Althea went out into the yard with Max in her arms, wrapped in the blanket as Stella had instructed. While the puppy rested, she looked around for Hael.
She found him asleep on the stairs, his back against the wall and his arms crossed. His expression was calm, very different from the grumpy, distrustful boy she knew.
She approached quietly and watched him for a few seconds. Hael's brow was relaxed, his lips slightly parted. Asleep... he looked like any other child. Vulnerable. Harmless.
"He has a pretty face..." she thought suddenly, without expecting it.
The heat rose to her cheeks as she realized.
—What are you thinking? —she whispered to herself, shaking her head in embarrassment.
At that moment, Max let out a soft bark, just enough to wake Hael. He blinked a couple of times, disoriented, and then looked at her.
—Oh… you're up already —he said, rubbing his eyes as he sat up—. I thought you'd be longer.
—Well, Stella said I could take Max outside, so I didn't have to stay long —Althea replied.
—I see —Hael nodded, moving a little closer —. So… is he Max?
—Yes, he's Max —she replied with a smile, gently stroking the puppy's head—. Isn't he adorable?
—Yes... he is. I thought "Max" was a child younger than you. Like your brother or something. But I see he's a pet —Hael said, shrugging his shoulders.
Althea frowned slightly.
—He's not just a pet. He's like my family... so I'd like you to respect him.
Hael paused for a second, somewhat surprised by the tone of her voice. Then he calmly raised his hands.
—Okay, don't get mad… —he replied, moving forward slowly, his tone less sharp than usual.
As they walked through the quiet neighborhood, Althea and Hael saw an elderly couple coming out of their house. The sky was clear, and the morning sun felt warm but gentle. The old man, bent over by age, was struggling to drag a wooden chair onto the porch for his wife.
Without thinking, Hael ran ahead.
—Mr. Javier, let me help you with the chair —he said in a firm but respectful voice.
—Oh, thank you, Hael —the man replied with a sincere smile.
Hael smiled back and hurried to place the chair in a comfortable spot in the shade. Then, without being asked, he went back into the house to fetch another chair.
While the old man helped his wife sit down carefully, Hael returned with the second chair and placed it next to her. Then, with a gentleness unusual for him, he took the old man by the arm to help him sit down as well.
From a distance, Althea watched silently. She couldn't help but be surprised. This wasn't the grumpy, curt boy from that morning. This Hael was considerate, attentive... kind. He hardly seemed like the same person.
She approached slowly, taking cautious steps.
The old woman saw her coming and smiled.
—Oh… and who is this little one?
Before Althea could answer, Hael stepped forward and stood beside her, pointing at her with a slight nod of his head.
—This is Althea. She's new... my brother helped her and brought her here.
—I'm glad you found Elion —said the old man, in a warm tone—. Here, at least for now, things are calm... out there, everything is more difficult.
—It must have been very hard for you —the woman added gently—. And your parents... where are they?
Althea lowered her gaze. Her hands tightened slightly on the blanket she was holding Max in. She stammered as she replied.
—They… they're gone.
—We're so sorry, dear —said the old woman, with an expression of sorrow.
Hael glanced at her sideways. He hadn't known that until now. He felt a knot in his stomach. Without thinking, he raised his hand, hesitating, with the intention of touching her arm. Just a small gesture, as if to say, "I'm here",even though he didn't quite know how to do it.
But before she could, Althea looked up with a small smile.
—It's okay... I still have Max.
Hael stopped, surprised. He slowly lowered his hand, saying nothing. There was something new in his expression. Perhaps respect. Perhaps understanding.
Max wagged his tail slightly in Althea's arms, as if he also wanted to say that everything was fine.
The old woman gently stroked Max's head, which was still wrapped in the blanket, resting peacefully in Althea's arms.
—He has such a sweet look… —said the woman—. I'm sure he's a great companion.
—He is —eplied Althea, looking down at Max —. He's always been with me, even in the worst of times. He makes me feel like I'm not alone.
—Animals have a gift for that —added the old man in a raspy but kind voice—. They don't speak, but they understand. Sometimes more than people do.
Hael sat on the edge of the sidewalk, looking intently at Max.
—Have you always had it with you? —he asked, trying to sound casual.
—For a few months now... we met by chance, or perhaps... by fate.
The old woman smiled tenderly.
—Sometimes fate puts us exactly where we need to be, with whom we need to be.
—That's what my brother always says —Hael murmured—. That everything happens for a reason.
—And your brother is wise beyond his years — said the old man, chuckling.
—Too wise —rumbled Hael, although a small smile appeared on his face.
—And you, Hael? —asked the old woman—. Now that you're not going to school, what do you do when you're not helping old people move chairs?
Hael shrugged.
—I don't know… reading, I guess. I like old books, adventure books. And sometimes I draw, but don't tell anyone —he said, lowering his voice.
—Oh! Are you an artist? —said the old woman with an enchanted look.
—No... I just doodle.
Althea looked at him sideways, surprised.
—You don't seem like it —she said, in a soft tone, without mockery.
—Why? —asked Hael, frowning.
—I don't know… it's just that… when I arrived, you were so grumpy.
Hael looked at her as if he were going to respond with annoyance, but sighed instead.
—Well, like I told you… I don't like new people. You never know if you can trust them.
There was a brief silence. The old woman broke it gently.
—Trusting is difficult… but it's also what keeps us human.
Althea nodded, her eyes on Max.
—I understand. I didn't used to trust anyone either… but Elion was kind from the start. And Max has always given me courage.
—Elion has a good heart —said the old man—. It's rare to see young people like that these days.
—He always takes care of everyone —added Hael, looking toward where his brother had disappeared hours earlier—. Although sometimes he forgets about himself.
The old woman offered them some cookies she had stored in a small metal box.
—Here, share with Max too, if he can eat a little.
—Thank you… —said Althea, taking one carefully.
—Lemon cookies? —sked Hael, with a genuine smile—. They're my favorite.
—I remembered —said the old woman with a knowing smile.
And for a moment, the five of them stood there, sharing a quiet pause under the clear sky, as if the outside world and its dangers were just a distant bad memory.