It had been years since the day Philip and his Guardian first met. Four years old then, nine years old now. Thankfully, there was no sign of change in him, but he would. He was growing up, growing older.

"Philip," his Guardian whispered, "I need to talk to you."

"Yes? What is it about?"

"You know that many people change when they grow older, right?"

"Right."

"I don't want you to change."

"Relax," Philip assured him, "I'll never change."

"That's what you say, but wait till you get older. If you feel like you're changing, or you want to change, just remember what I told you. Never change," said the man.

"Relax, I'll never change."

But Philip didn't uphold what he said and started to morph from a sweet child to a bitter person. Since he was ten, he gradually became influenced by a group of trouble-makers that were his age. His best friend, Louis, was always there to remind him of what he promised. However, the reminders barely affected him as he grew older and more disrespectful. More surprisingly, he actually left Louis to be with a gang of trouble-makers. And from there, he started to care less. The typical teenager; people thought. He became rude, discontented and peevish.

The man appeared to him in his bedroom when he was 15 years old. He rebuked him for becoming disrespectful and in return, the boy sassed him.

"Look, I know you're a good boy deep down but right now I'm very concerned with you," said the man.

"Concerned about me? I'm absolutely fine, there's no need to worry. I haven't changed," Philip replied.

"Yes, you have and it's worrying. Don't worry, you can start by calling off your relationship with those trouble-makers and start finding better friends."

"They're not trouble-makers, they're just misunderstood teenagers who just want to have fun and freedom!"

"They're having fun the wrong way so..."

"I don't care," said Philip, cutting off the man's sentence, "because they're cool and they know how to live life to the fullest. Louis doesn't know anything about living it up, so that's why I ditched him!"

"Your closest companion was there to warn you, yet you ignored him and even turned you back on him! What may seem 'cool' to you and your new group of 'friends' isn't actually 'cool' but it's deteriorating to your behavior and emotional well-being!"

"Who cares, man? Who cares?" Philip shouted.

"I care. Your mother cares. Your friend cares. Your younger brother and sister care. Your 'friends' don't care. You've become reckless, disrespectful, far from the boy I used to know."

"That's it! Leave! I don't want to see you again!"

"But Philip..."

"...just go away, will you? Go!"

"I'm not leaving you if you're still going to be like that."

"Just leave!"

The man clutched his chest, feeling as if a sharp dagger pierced his heart. He fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face. How could he? Nevertheless, he bade him goodbye.

"Fine," said the man, "if leaving you is what you wish for, then I shall grant it!"

The man faded into dust, out of sight. He was gone, but not for good. He was still there, but he wouldn't let him know. To not interfere was what he asked for, so he shall not bother him.

It was autumn, a season of cool breezes and colored leaves. His ex-friend, Louis, sent him a private letter. Philip read the letter silently in his dormitory.

Dear Philip,

I know that you're probably upset with me and that you don't want to communicate with me, but I want to ask you a favor. Can you please meet me at the school garden, and sit on the same bench where we first knew each other? I'll see you there on Tuesday, at 19:30. Thanks.

Sincerely,
Louis Philippe Desrosiers

He folded the letter and kept it in his bag. Why would he want to meet him? Was it something important? He went to the school garden on Tuesday and waited until it was 19:30. He sat on the bench, waiting patiently. Just when he was about to leave, he recognized a familiar face. Dark brown hair that was wind-swept, skin that was fair and tan at the same time, brown eyes as sweet as honey and the rose-red lips that once smiled.

"I see that you're here," said Louis.

"Just like what you told me to do," Philip replied. The two sat next to each other on the bench. They had felt awkward, for the last time they had seen each other in five months was in a feud.

"What was it that you wanted to talk about?" Philip asked him.

"Well, it's something partly personal. You see, my mom died giving birth to me and now my dad's gone too."

"Really?" Philip gasped, feeling empathy for him.

"Yes. My dad had a heart attack, and now I have to move back to Paris. It's too expensive for any of my relatives to move here, so I'd have to go..."

"...away for good?" Philip finished his sentence. Louis nodded his head.

"I'm not sure whether you'd be happy or sad, because we've been friends for about nine years but we recently had a fight and..."

"...forget about the fight we had, Louis. It's the past! I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings and please forgive me. I never thought you'd actually be gone!"

"I forgive you," said Louis, "but the scars remain."

"Please tell me that it's all a joke!"

"No, it isn't, but I wished it was."

The two spent the next weeks having the best moments of their nine-year friendship. The day then came, friends and family gathering for the farewell party. They laughed and wept, reminiscing the good times they had. Finally, before he left, Louis gave Philip a farewell-gift. It was a picture of the two of them when they were seven years old, set in an antique wooden frame.

"Gee, thanks," said Philip.

"You're welcome. You know why I gave you this?" Louis asked him.

"No. Why?"

"Because I want you to remember your old self, when you were still innocent. Can you do me a favor please?"

"Yes, of course!"

"Please don't change, okay? I don't want you to be too different."

"I shall never change."

Later that day, Philip sat alone in his dorm. Feeling lonely, he called out to his Protector.

"Oh My Protector, I Summon Thee!" he called out. Nothing happened. Was he loud enough? He tried again.

"Oh My Protector, I Summon Thee!" he chanted. Still nothing. The voice echoed in his mind.

"Fine, if leaving you is what you wish for, then I shall grant it!"

How foolish he was to drive his Guardian away! Oh what an oaf he was at that time. He laid down on his bed, kicked off his shoes and regretted all the bad he did.

But the damage was already done.