Chapter 45

• Leaving them behind, I walked straight out to the garden and sat at one of the outdoor tables. Even though I’d arrived early, I wasn’t the first one out there. A little girl was sitting alone just a few tables away. Petite and slender, she had a round face and long, dark brown hair. She wore a pretty yellow dress that fell to her knees, with floral details that gave her the innocent look of a child who couldn’t have been more than ten.
• From where I sat, I could see her little legs swinging as her hands busied themselves, rummaging through the food on her plate to decide what to eat next. Little by little, familiar faces from school started showing up and filling the place. I figured I’d just wait for a friendlier face before going over to say hi.
• Before long, the first round of snacks and drinks began making its way around the tables. I grabbed a few finger foods and, without thinking, glanced back toward the little girl, wondering how she’d managed to get so much food before everyone else. But she was gone. No matter how much I scanned the area, I couldn’t spot her anywhere.