"Will that girl be all right?" he inquired.
"I am not entirely certain. The young child has sustained several serious injuries, but I remain hopeful for a swift recovery," the elderly woman replied as she rewrapped the child's bandages, noting the improvements in her condition and overall health.
I find myself questioning how this child sustained these injuries.
The little girl blinked and gradually opened her eyes, finding herself gazing at an unfamiliar ceiling. As she lifted her hand, she noticed bandages wrapped around her arms. Staring at her hand with intensity, the harsh reality of her situation began to flood back to her. She placed her hand behind her, burdened by heavy thoughts of the events that had shaped her life. Closing her eyes, tears streamed down her cheeks.
"What was that? You mentioned we shouldn't interrupt her process, but what's going on with her? This is the third time this week," he inquired, observing from the doorway with concern. He was returning with a bucket of warm water to tend to her wounds, casting a worried glance at the elderly woman.
"The child must have experienced something traumatic and simply needs time to herself. I believe she will be just fine in due course," the elderly woman remarked.
""Well, I suppose I should express my gratitude for saving her life," he remarked, handing her the bucket before turning to walk away.
The elderly woman successfully halted him in his tracks. "Where are you going? You cannot leave that little girl here with me. There are some questions I would like to ask you as well," she said, her voice filled with concern.
"I have some business to attend to and will return shortly. As for the questions, they will need to wait until I am back."
"What is your relationship to the little girl?" she inquired.
As he began to walk, he remained silent, stealing one last glance at her. This time, their eyes met directly, prompting him to approach her calmly and kneel beside her bedside.
"Where am I?" the little girl inquired, her expression a mixture of confusion and sadness. She felt an inexplicable familiarity with her surroundings and suddenly recalled a man who had carried her through the snow, though his face remained a blur in her memory.
"It does seem that you are alright," he remarked.
The little girl clutched the man's shirt tightly, tears cascading as she buried her face against his chest. As she swayed gently, her heart felt as though it might burst, aching with profound sorrow. She desperately wished that the loss of her parents was merely a fleeting nightmare, but fate had woven a harsher truth for her. With each dawn, she came to understand that it mattered not how many times she awoke; the cruel reality remained unchanged, greeting her with the same heart-wrenching disappointment.
He comforted her until she peacefully fell asleep in his arms. Gently, he laid her down on the mattress and covered her with a sheet. Sighing deeply, he contemplated the uncertainty of when he might see her again. He placed a small amulet in her hand and closed her fingers around it before quietly closing the door behind him.
" Sleep well, child."
The young girl rubbed her eyes, still drowsy, and felt something in her hand. It was a beautiful amulet, which she recognized as belonging to the man who had saved her. Gazing out the window, she noticed footsteps in the distance. Overcome with urgency, she dashed out the door, breathless and with tears streaming down her face. However, an elderly woman managed to stop her. "Please let me go and find him! I didn't get the chance to thank him!" she cried.
WHY IS EVERYONE LEAVING ME?
"Alas, dear child, the world beyond is fraught with peril as the chill descends. Your wounds still bear the marks of struggle, and should I permit your departure, your well-being may falter further."
She was so overwhelmed that words failed to capture the depth of her emotions. This burden was far too heavy for a little girl to bear, so she wove a tapestry of her memories, casting aside the shadows of sorrow. She cherished the radiant moment of blowing out the candles on her birthday, while gently erasing the painful truth of her parents' absence. In her heart, she conjured the comforting image of her parents waiting for her at home, their warm smiles lighting up the darkness.