Doodle in the Woods

Bai Ye was right. Even with me beside the bed, the boy was still beyond disappointed when he woke up to the news of our early departure. But being the sweet child he was, he only nodded understandingly when his parents explained that the rest of the village needed our help as well. After soliciting a promise from us that we'd be back to visit again as soon as we could, he gave each of us a big embrace and longingly saw us off.

"We can always come back here tonight if we finish the search early enough," Bai Ye said when he noticed the equally wistful look on my face. "Even if that means I'll have to sleep on the floor."