Today, Nadine turns ten. She wasn't so happy. The Clarks used to celebrate by going out for ice cream. Now, it is just her, locked in with boredom. The depressing thought interrupted when the door was banged.

"Psst..."

"Leo," she said to herself. She rushed to the door. When she cracked the door, Leo was smiling. He was holding a stuffed bear.

A note was pinned to the bow around its neck. It said, "To my hope, happy birthday!" Tears welled up in Nadine's eyes. "What's wrong," her friend asked. "Don't you like it?"

She nodded as she held the bear close. "Then, what's the matter?"

"I don't know. I..." She started to laugh. Leo raised an eyebrow slowly. Finally, he said, "You're euphoric, are you?"

"What does that mean?"

"It happens when someone's happy, like you are now."

Nadine stopped laughing and gave the boy the biggest hug. "Thank you... my friend," she grinned.

Leo also brought a cake in a box. "I asked my mother to bake it. I didn't tell her about you."

They ate slices of cake on surprisely intact tableware. Finally, Nadine speaks up. "I heard the police found my mom."

Leo stops and looks up at her. "They said it was a hit and run."

"What is a hit and run?"

"When someone gets hit by a car, the driver drives off and leaves the injured person on the road." He sees the tears forming in Nadine's eyes. "Let's discuss something else. No one wants to be sad on their birthday."

"It's not that."

"Then, what is it?" Leo comes to her side.

"All this time, I thought she deserted me. I thought she didn't want me anymore." Leo hugs her tightly as she cries into his shirt.