Note: This is a random conversation I decided to do between a friend and a runaway.  We’ll call the runaway Allie and the friend Mark (for no special reason whatsoever).  I originally had this posted but I accidentally deleted it so here it is again.  I hope you enjoy it!...

Allie coughed in to a clenched fist in the park’s gazebo, mostly to rid her stomach of the hunger pains.  She’d only been gone a day… but then again, she always had had a big appetite.  She chuckled quietly to herself on the topic, but the smile quickly faded.  She had been right; maybe no one even cared.
The park gleamed in the sunlight, children prancing happily through the lush soccer fields, the playground eagerly awaiting them.  Allie pulled her hoody closer to her and tucked her hands in the pockets with a sigh.  She let a tear roll down her cheek in agony.  She watched her breath puff out in a white cloud, shaky with her shivering.
Allie jumped slightly when she felt a soft touch drape along her whole back.  She glanced down at the plaid blanket, a little torn, but still fuzzy and warm.  “Cold?” a familiar voice whispered; she knew exactly who it belonged to, but it sounded so different… so sad.
She turned and looked up to Mark who sat down quietly next to her.  She turned away so he couldn’t see the tears streaming from her precious blue eyes.  His voice cracked, “I really miss you.”
Allie’s sobs made little squeaks that stuck in the back of her throat.
“Hey,” he cooed and turned her chin towards him.  “I’m here for you… I’m staying right here.”
“I didn't want to leave... I just felt like it was the only way out.”  She buried her face in cupped palms.
“Well...don’t you miss anyone at home?” Mark asked desperately.  
“Of course... I miss my mom and my friends… and you… my only real friend, I see now…”
He groaned, “Why would you wanna leave them all behind? Is it worth it Allie?"
“Not really... but... it takes the pain away to be away from that whole situation,” she sniffled.
“Well why am I here?  We're a team Allie...we can fight through anything.”
She wiped her eyes.
“Anything…”
“I know but... I figured...”  She fought for words.
He repeated once again, “Anything Allie, I’m here for you all the way… Allie... I...need you to come home.”
“I don't know..."
“It’s not that I want you too... it’s that I need you too, we all do.”
She shut her eyes tight to keep the tears from coming, “Not everyone..."
“Everyone Allie, especially me.  I’m not going back if you don’t.  Someone needs to keep you warm.”  He rubbed her back and she looked down to the ground.
“I could come back but...”
Mark rubbed his watery eyes.
“Don't cry Mark... see... I don't wanna hold other people back... so you can go, and stop worrying about me, I'll be fine.”  She turned to walk away.
He caught her arm gently.  Confused, he spluttered, “Hold me back?  I didn’t come looking for you cause I thought I had too… I’m not staying because I think I had too… I did this because I wanted to, of course in a way I had to, you’re Allie, the one who saved me… you’re a part of me, so I went looking.”
Her lip quivered and she looked away from him.  “I’m sorry.”
He moved closer to her and whispered, “No... I’m sorry, I should’ve been there.”
“What do you mean?"
“There had to of been a way for me to stop you from leaving.”  He turned away in defeat, “But I failed"
She said in quiet anger, “You didn't fail because there was nothing to fail... there was no one to stop from leaving.”  She sighed, “I don't even exist anymore... so just let it go... go home, you'll be happier there.”
“Allie...you exist, cause if you didn’t, my heart would be so black right now.”  He sighed in frustration, “You can’t say me going home without you will make me happy.”
“Why not?” she said with obvious anger through clenched teeth.
He breathed out, as if he were about to die, “I was dead when I found out you were gone…”
Allie looked him straight in the eyes and hissed, “Then why'd you bother?!  I'm not important...”
He held her hand.  “Because... you’re the most important person to me, I care so much about you... you’re the only person who makes me like who I am.”
She shook her head towards the gazebo’s wooden floor.  “Why are you torturing me like this?”
Mark rubbed her shoulder then burst in to hysterical sobbing.
“Don't cry,” she cooed.  “I'm not worth crying over…”
“Allie...”  He sniffled and wiped away his tears.  “You have no idea how much you mean to me, more than anything… of course I’m gonna cry over you.”  Mark held her hands tight.  “Please Allie,” he pleaded, “please… just come home.  I’m gonna make sure everything is better.”
She turned away and let hot tears stream down her face.
“I promise,” he muttered.
Allie pulled the blanket closer around her.  “Really?”
Mark’s whole face brightened.  “Of course.”
Allie stood up with Mark and sighed, “Let’s go back.”  She held on to him tightly before they started the walk home.