In a small neighborhood where narrow dusty streets passed between old houses and open land, two boys were known by everyone for always being together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their names were Elian and Matteo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From the age of five, they spent almost every afternoon side by side. They ran through the alleyways, hid behind broken walls during games of hide-and-seek, and chased insects in the tall grass beyond the last houses in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Elian\u2019s father worked as a mechanic at a small roadside workshop and was rarely home because of long working hours. Matteo lived with relatives because his mother worked in another country and sent money home to support him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But none of those things mattered to the boys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To the people around them, their bond looked deeper than ordinary friendship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They looked like brothers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One afternoon, however, their lives took an unexpected turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matteo\u2019s mother finally returned after many years abroad with news that would change everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She had arranged for Matteo to move overseas with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the day he left, the two boys stood in the same street where they had spent countless afternoons playing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They hugged tightly and cried without trying to hide it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll come back one day,\u201d Matteo said, wiping his tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI promise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At that age, both of them believed it would only be a short separation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But years passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Five long years later, Matteo returned to the neighborhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was thirteen now\u2014taller, more confident, and dressed neatly as if he had just come from a special event. He had stopped by to visit relatives after arriving from the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As he stepped out of the car, he noticed a boy sitting beside a small roadside shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The boy looked thin. His clothes were old and faded, and his sandals were covered with dust and dried mud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At first, Matteo didn\u2019t recognize him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then the boy raised his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their eyes met.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matteo slowly placed his hand on his chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cElian?\u201d he said quietly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The boy stood up slowly, shock written across his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMatteo?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matteo paused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cheerful friend he remembered seemed different now. The old Elian had been energetic and full of laughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the boy standing before him carried a tired look in his eyes, as if life had been much heavier than it should be for someone his age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matteo stepped closer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Elian took a small step back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s me,\u201d Matteo said gently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then he noticed so<\/p>\n\n\n\n