Miguel ran.
His small legs ached, burning with each step, but he didn't stop. The stitch in his side felt like someone was poking him with a needle, but he kept going. He was in a part of the city he didn't recognize—tall buildings loomed overhead like giants, the streets were dirty and filled with strangers, and everything seemed bigger and scarier than it had ever been before.
"We can do this, Mr. Growls," he whispered to the teddy bear clutched tightly in his arms, its worn fur damp with his tears and sweat. "We have to be brave."
The bear's black button eyes stared back at him blankly, offering silent comfort as it had for all of Miguel's five years of life. Mr. Growls had been there through nightmares and thunderstorms. Now he was here for this—whatever this was.
Miguel ducked int
