The boy smiled.
For the first time.
But that night…
Mr. Hayes couldn’t stop thinking about those tears.
So he followed him.
Through quiet streets.
Past empty sidewalks.
Until…
Cole turned toward a cemetery.
Mr. Hayes stopped.
Then slowly followed.
Cole walked between the graves… until he knelt in front of a small white headstone.
Mr. Hayes read the name.
June.
Aged 7.
“Hi, June,” Cole whispered softly, placing the pink teddy bear against the stone.
“I brought you another one.”
Mr. Hayes felt his heart crack.
Cole gently fixed the bear.
“I know pink was your favorite,” he said quietly. “You said it looked like cotton candy sunsets.”
The wind moved through the trees.
Cole traced the letters on the grave.
“Mom’s not doing well,” he whispered. “She cries at night. I can hear her.”
His voice broke.
“Do you remember the toy store?” he said softly. “You wouldn’t leave without a pink bear. You said every princess needed one… and made me carry it home because I was your knight.”
Mr. Hayes covered his mouth to keep from making a sound.
“I didn’t get to say goodbye,” Cole whispered, his voice shaking. “They wouldn’t let me into the hospital.”
Silence.
“So I bring these for you instead.”
Mr. Hayes felt tears fall down his face.
“I work for them,” Cole continued softly. “Mr. Hayes thinks I just like the bear. He doesn’t know it’s for you.”
His voice dropped to a whisper.
“I just don’t want you to feel alone.”
That night changed everything.
The next Saturday…
Cole walked into the shop like always.
But this time, Mr. Hayes was waiting.
“You don’t need to work today,” he said gently.
Cole looked confused.
“I don’t?”
“I have something for you.”
He brought out a large box.
Opened it.
Inside—
Dozens of pink teddy bears.
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