Lala sat quietly by the window, her tail curled tightly around her paws as the golden evening light faded into dusk. The house felt strangely empty without Bibi. For the first time in a long while, there was no playful chatter, no tiny footsteps following her around, and no cheerful laughter filling the air. The silence pressed heavily on her heart.
Not long ago, Lala had been full of mischief. She loved teasing Bibi—snatching toys, hiding snacks, and sometimes pretending not to care when Bibi tried to play. At the time, it all felt like harmless fun. Bibi would pout, sometimes even cry, but would always come back with a hopeful smile, ready to forgive and play again.
But now, things were different.
Earlier that day, Bibi had left to stay with a relative for a while. As the door closed behind her, she gave Lala one last look—not angry, not upset, just quiet. That look lingered in Lala’s mind like a shadow she couldn’t shake off.
“Why didn’t I just play nicely?” Lala whispered to herself, her eyes growing misty.
She slowly walked to the corner where Bibi used to sit and build little towers with her toys. One of the blocks still lay there, slightly chipped from the time Lala had knocked everything over just to see Bibi’s reaction. Back then, Lala had laughed. Now, she gently picked up the block and held it close, her chest tightening with regret.
Memories flooded in—Bibi offering her treats, Bibi calling her name excitedly, Bibi trying over and over again to be her friend. And all those times, Lala had pushed her away.
“I was so mean…” Lala murmured, lowering her head.
That night, Lala didn’t cause any trouble. She didn’t run around or play tricks. Instead, she lay quietly, staring at the door, hoping it would open and Bibi would walk back in with that same forgiving smile.
Lala made a promise to herself: if Bibi returned, things would be different. No more teasing, no more selfishness. She would be kind, gentle, and the friend Bibi always deserved.
Because sometimes, it takes losing a moment to realize how precious it truly was.
