The ten year old boy, sat down on the park's bench; with both his hands, he cupped his cheeks and rested his elbows on his knees.

The setting sun casting a long shadow of his small figure on the ground, the light evening breeze playing with his blonde hair and the deep blue eyes glistening with tears threatening to fall.

Before the tears could fall, he sighed deeply and wiped them away with the back of his palm as a small pout formed on his pink luscious lips.

His stomach growled loudly. Afterall, he had not eaten anything except for a small bowl of soup that he had this morning.

How he wish that a huge plate of food magically appear.

He clutched his stomach and his lips quivered. Hands trembling due to fatigue.

The boy hoped that no one sees him like that and sure there was no one except for the small girl that was watching him from her bedroom's window.

Her house was at a few meters, directly opposite to the small colony's small park.

She was watching him, ever since he sat there. Noticing his every actions even though she was just seven, not old enough to comprehend what exactly was wrong with him.

She has seen that boy a few times but they never met or talked but today before she knew it, her tiny feet carried her out.

Her parents were too busy watching television to notice her going out.

As fast as her tiny feet could carry her, she reached that boy.

For a moment she just stood there, in front of him. When the boy noticed her, he lifted his head and their eyes met.

One stared into those deep blue eyes while the other in those dark brown eyes. The boy was quick to turn his head sideways, he didn't like people to see him being vulnerable.

When he didn't speak, the girl sat beside him quietly.

He wanted to tell her to go away but was afraid that his voice will crack and he will break down in front of her.

"What's wrong?", the girl finally spoke after a minute in a soft tone.

The boy turned his head away further at her question.

She poked his shoulder with her index finger. "Say something. Why are you sad? Did someone scold you?"

The boy cleared his throat and with his head still turned sideways he said in a sharp tone, "Nothing happened. Now, go away."

The girl pouted sadly at his answer but got up and giving him one last look, walked away.

He heard her retrieving footsteps and a part of him felt guilty for speaking to her rudely. He felt like going after her and apologize but didn't.

And then all of a sudden, "Boo!"

The boy screamed to see that girl came up to him from the other side and scared the hell out of him.

Seeing the startled expression on his face, the girl started laughing.

The sound of laughter that echoed warmed that boy's heart and for a moment he forgot how hungry he was, he just wanted to laugh along with her or atleast smile as his lips itched to curl up but he bit them instead.

When she finally sobered up, she sat at the same place she was sitting before and this time the boy didn't turn his head sideways but instead was looking at her without making it too obvious.

"So", the girl said, "will you tell me now what happened to you?"

The boy huffed. "You are stubborn, just like my brother", he muttered.

She was scrutinizing his face. And when he didn't speak for a minute she said, "I am waiting."

"Tick...tok...tick...tok", she sang in an annoying tone.

The boy groaned.

"Fine! I am hungry", he admitted.

The girl stopped singing. "Oh."

Then she said innocently after a moment, "Why don't you go back home and eat something?"

The boy shook his head lightly at her innocence and then said in a low, sad voice, "We are poor. We don't have much food at home. There was only little and I told my mother that I am not hungry so that they could eat properly. That's why I am here."

The girl's lips formed an 'O' shape as she understood.

And then she got up. "Wait here."

The boy watched as she ran back towards her house; he didn't know why she wanted him to wait...all he wanted was her to stay a bit longer to give him some company.

He sighed.

But he waited for ten minutes until he saw her emerging from her house but this time, she had a small box in her hand.

As she came closer he realised that it was small pineapple yellow colour tiffin box.

She panted when she stopped in front of him and then sat down again and extended the tiffin box towards him.

"Have this", she said.

"What's that?" He looked at the tiffin box then at her in confusion.

"That's cheese grilled sandwich that I made. That's the only thing I know how to make."

The boy's mouth parted slightly in surprise. "How old are you?"

She grinned. "Seven."

"And you know how to make a sandwich?"

She nodded happily. "Yes, I do. I love cooking but that's the only thing my mom let's me make."

The boy didn't take the tiffin box but just looked at it and then looked ahead.

"Take this", she urged, "I made this for you. Now you have to eat it."

When he still didn't take it, she asked, "You don't like sandwiches?"

To be honest, the boy actually didn't like sandwiches but since he was so hungry and this girl here made it for him, he couldn't say no to her.

He looked at her. "I don't like sandwiches...but...t-thank you. I will eat it.

With hesitation, he slowly took the tiffin box from her hand and opened it to see two pieces of sandwiches inside.

The girl was looking at him carefully as he took a bite of the sandwich.

Maybe he was too hungry or maybe the taste of the sandwich was actually addictive that he gobbled it down in a minute.

Chewing the last bite, tears formed in his eyes. He finally could eat something and it was so delicious.

The girl noticed the tears, and her brows knitted together.

"You are crying", she pointed out, "did you not like it?"

He immediately shook his head as a no and swallowing the last bite, he said it aloud, "No. It was delicious. Thank you so much."

The girl grinned happily at his compliment and then leaning forward, she wiped away the single tear that fell on his cheeks with her tiny fingers.

"If you want, you can come again tomorrow and I will make it again for you", she said taking the tiffin box from him.

Before he could reply, she went away.

.

.

.

The next day, at the same time, the boy again found himself on that park's bench but this time he was constantly glancing at her house hoping she would come out and yet again give him that sandwich to eat.

He felt embarrassed to ask for it himself, what will she think of him?

So, he waited...and waited...and waited...

And then the door opened and that same girl with the same pineapple yellow colour tiffin box walked out.

She smiled when she saw him and he mirrored her smile.

Her hair was tied in two ponytails that bounced as she ran towards him.

When she stopped in front of him, she held out the tiffin box towards him.

"Grilled cheese sandwich", she said and the boy smiled softly.

And this continued for a week, for a whole week she made the same sandwiches for him and he ate them with the same hunger and love.

Until one day she found herself standing in front of the empty park bench.

He didn't come.

Maybe he is busy and will come later, she thought and sat down on the bench.

She decided to wait for him but...he never came.

Disappointed she got up to leave for her house when she remembered that she once saw his house.

And clutching the tiffin box to her chest she ran to his house.

When she reached there, the first thing she saw was the taxi and the truck standing there and a few people.

Her eyes searched for him and finally they landed on his figure standing beside a woman.

He seemed to be also looking for her and their eyes met.

They both ran towards each other.

"You didn't come today", she said breathlessly.

"I am going", he whispered.

"Where?"

"Houston."

"Why?"

The boy lowered his gaze. "My dad's brother all of a sudden decided to be generous on us. He asked us to move to Houston and promised us a better life."

"So you won't come to Austin again?"

He shook his head. "No."

"Oh", she said and then she remembered something.

"Your sandwich." She gave the box to him.

The boy opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by his father who called him to get in the taxi.

He couldn't say anything as he turned around to leave with the tiffin in his hand.

All of a sudden the girl grabbed his arm and turned him around and then much to his surprise, leaning in, she kissed his cheek.

Yet again he opened his mouth to speak but his father came and gently grabbed his arm and took him away.

Aeryn just stood there and watched him go as he kept glancing back at her. Tears welled up in her eyes.

They never even asked each other's name.

The boy rolled down the taxi's window and stuck his head out and watched the girl as the taxi drove away.

His younger brother nudged his shoulder.

"Everette?", he whispered.

He turned towards his brother. "What, Gareth?"

"Is she your girlfriend?", he whispered making sure no one hears him.

The boy looked out of the window again, watching the girl for the last time.

"Y-yes." His voice shook with emotions threatening to escape.

A tear rolled down his cheek. "Yes, she is."