Every morning before school, he runs outside barefoot—even in the cold—to find her. He talks to her like she’s a classmate, tells her about spelling tests and what he thinks clouds are made of. She follows him like a dog. Waits by the porch until he gets home.

We thought it was cute at first. Then we realized it was more than that.

After his mom left last year, he got quiet. Stopped smiling the way he used to. Wouldn’t even touch his pancakes, and those used to be sacred to him. But then Nugget started hanging around—this awkward puff of yellow that wandered into our yard from who-knows-where.

And something clicked.

He smiled again. Started eating. Sleeping. Laughing. All because of this one goofy bird.

Yesterday, Nugget was gone.

We searched everywhere. Coop, woods, roadside. No feathers, no tracks, nothing. He cried himself to sleep with her photo clutched in his little fist.

And then this morning—there she was.

Just standing in the driveway like nothing happened. A little muddy. A scratch on her beak. But alive.

He scooped her up, eyes shut tight like he was afraid she might disappear again. Wouldn’t let her go. Not for breakfast, not for school, not for anything.

And as I stood there watching him, I noticed something tied around her leg.

A tiny red ribbon. Frayed at the edges.

And a tag I hadn’t seen before.

It said: “Returned. She chose to come back.”

I didn’t say anything. I just watched him, holding Nugget like she was a precious treasure. My heart ached for him, for the way he clung to this small, feathered creature as if she were the only thing anchoring him to joy.

We managed to get him to eat some toast, Nugget perched on his shoulder, pecking at the crumbs. He even managed a small smile. But the school bus came and went, and he wouldn’t budge.

“He can’t go like this,” I told my partner, Liam. “He needs to be around other kids.”

Liam sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I know. But look at him. He’s terrified she’ll vanish again.”

We decided to let him stay home. It wasn’t a solution, but it was a temporary reprieve. The whole day was spent with Nugget tucked under his arm, a constant, warm presence. He even tried to read her his favorite story, a picture book about a brave little mouse.

As evening approached, a strange car pulled into our driveway. A small, rusty pickup, driven by an elderly woman with kind, crinkled eyes. She stepped out, a gentle smile on her face.

“Hello,” she said, her voice soft. “I believe you have my chicken.”