THE MISSING PIECES OF GRACE

My name is Cody. I'm a high school student at Shinsei High School, a place where everyone seems to be moving forward—except me. This is how it all started. Not when I entered high school, but when I was a kid. Back when I didn't understand how deeply the past could follow you into the present. I was living with my mom at that time; because my mom and dad had a fight. and 3 days later I watch my dad leave the house without saying goodbye. After dad leave, my mom started to cry. I watch my mom go and sat on the couch with her hands holding her face downwards and for the first time i seeing my mom cry like this; Mom I said softly. She look up at me her eyes red and tired. "Can we go to the park?" She don't understand right away. Than she wiped her face, force a small smile and nodded. After that we left the house and went to the park. While me and my mom were on the way to the park, my mom slowed down her steps when she noticed a woman from her job walking ahead of us. "Hey," my mom called out. The woman turned around and smiled. "Oh, hi." They talked for a moment, quietly. I didn't pay attention to what they were saying. Instead, I noticed the girl standing beside her. "This is my daughter," the woman said, gently guiding her forward. "Her name is Mia." Mia didn't say anything at first. She kept her eyes on the ground, then slowly looked up at me. I don't remember what I said back. I only remember that moment clearly—because that was the first time I met her. After my mom and her coworker finished talking, we walked to the park together. When we arrived, my mom and her friend sat on a bench. She looked at me and said softly, "Cody, go play with Mia." I was walking over to Mia when she suddenly looked up and spotted me. Her face lit up with a big smile. "Come and play with me!" she said, grabbing my hands and tugging me along. And For a moment, I only can hear her laughter. And I couldn't help myself but smile as we ran together across the park, the wind brushing past us and her laughter ringing like tiny bells in the air. Mia stopped and looked up at me, her eyes sparkling. "Do you want to play hide and seek?" she asked. "Sure," I said, smiling. "You hide first." She giggled and ran off to find a hiding spot. I covered my eyes and counted slowly, "One... two... three... ten!" I opened my eyes and started looking around. The swings, the sandbox, the trees—everywhere seemed like a good hiding spot. Then, behind a large tree, I spotted a small flash of movement. "Found you!" I called, and Mia jumped out, and say. "Hey! That's not fair!" she said, puffing out her cheeks And I started to laugh and Mia started to laugh with me. Just as we were catching our breath from laughing, I heard my mom calling out from the bench. Cody, we're ready to go!" Coming i said. Just for a moment Mia tugged on my shirt and i turn around and saw Mia looked up at me, her eyes wide. "Will... will you be my friend?" she asked softly. I smiled at her. And said Yes. Her face lit up, and she beamed at me. We both ran over to our moms. Mia gave her mom a quick hug and waved excitedly. "Bye! See you later!" she said. I waved back at her. And than we both go our separate ways. Years later, looking back as a high schooler, the memory didn't feel quite so simple. I regret I ever becoming friends with Mia.