He looked up at Val with an interrogative gaze one more time, to which Val replied with a nod. Adrien unfastened the ribbon and opened the lid: inside, there was a sweater, vermillion in color, made of the softest wool.

"I hope it fits you", Val said, "and I hope you like it".

Adrien unfolded the sweater, speechless. He looked at it front and back; he then turned away from Val - he slipped out the black sweater that he had been wearing and tried on the new one; he was pleased to see that it fit him well. He turned to Val again.

"It's perfect", he peeped.

"It looks like it", Val replied.

Adrien breathed in - the air in his lungs trembled and bubbled out in the form of a sob in his throat. "I -- it's -- it's wonderful -- I don't -- I don't know how to thank you -- you really didn't have to --".

"I wanted to", Val smiled.