Gwen

I walked up to her, then hunkered down to her height, so we were on the same eye level.

"Hey big girl, you don't know me and you want me to be your mom? How the hell is that even possible?" My eyes widened immediately, when I realized I just cussed in front of a kid.

This made her giggle.

"Cause you're the nicest of all the ladies I've met. They either hit me, or push me away. Calling me all sorts of bad nanes. Like dirty, flirthy and stupid." She wiped away dirt from her face with her palms. "l am not dirty, neither am I stupid. And you're the only lady who haven't told me that."

I could feel a huge smile forming on my lips, she was so smart and well spoken. Definitely not a street kid.

"What's your name?"

"Francesca." She ticked her head to her side, grinning from ear to ear.

"How old are you, Francesca?"

"Six and the half." She stretched her body to get my full attention, as if I didn't have it. Her eyes big as she watched my eyes move from the crown of her head, to the sole of her feet.

I smiled again.

"And you're also very beautiful." She complimented, touching my hair, adding dirt to it with her hand. But I didn't shove her hand away. She had found her way into my heart already.

"Francesca, you're a smart kid and I like you. But -"

"You do?" She interrupted me, her eyes nearly pulling out of their sockets.

"Yes, I do. But-"

"Will you be my mommy now?" She interrupted me again, with hope glimmering in her eyes.

I looked at her in disbelief, then placed a hand on my hip.

"No Francesca, things aren't done that way. We just met and I can't be your mom. Your parents would be worried about you right now. So, I want you to give me the address to your house so I'd take you home."

She let go off my hair and dropped her hand at her side, and looked away from me."My mom is late, and I don't know where I live."

I couldn't help but feel sad for her. At such young age, she had lost her mother.

"I'm so sorry Francesca, about your mom." I said genuine, with nothing but pity for her.

"See, that's why I want you to be my mom. I want to live you." She pointed out carefully, then tipped her head up to me. And I could see that the smile was beginning to disperse off her face.

I smiled again. People were now watching, pointing fingers at us. And whispering to one another. They were wondering why I was squarting and talking to a homeless kid.

I gulped, and then adverted my eyes back to her.

"You do have a Dad right, with elder siblings who are probably looking for you right now."

There was no response from her, she looked away from me this time. Her lips in a thin line.

I looked around us, and saw a group of young men from nowhere approaching us.

"Do you know her?" One of them, their head I assumed, threw the question at me. Probably thinking I was sweet talking her, so I could take her home and chop off her body to sell around black market.

My pulse exploded with nervousness.

Francesca was quiet, trying to figure out to say, or how to say what she wanted to say.

"I, uh..I do-"

Francesca rushed to hug me, wrapping her arms tightly on my neck.

"Please, don't leave me." She whispered into my ear. Failing to keep the tremble out of her voice.

"Do you know the kid?" Another one, with a scar on his jaw asked me this time. With a wicked glare on his fearful looking face.

"She's...she's my sister's daughter. She ran away from home because her step dad is maltreating her." The words flew out of my mouth before I could stop myself.

Francesca broke the hug, then stared at my face."I don't ever want to go back to that house, he hurt me here." She said revealing a deep cut on her arm to the men. A deep cut I didn't notice she had until now. She started shedding tears as she hugged me back. "I don't want to go back, I want to live with you."

I was caught off guard when she played along with me. Where did the kid know how to lie like that?

I looked up at the faces of the men as I hugged her back. There were confused looks on their faces. One of them even scratched the back of his head in embarrassment, with a puzzled look on his face.

The first guy who had spoken earlier, cleared his throat, not failing to eye me with suspicion and distrust, then said. "Well, you should take her home to her parents. You two are creating a scene here."

I gave him a firm nod, then stood up. Taking hold of Francesca's hand, I casted my eyes down to her little face that was scrunched up in take sadness, then I said. "Let's get you home."

She nodded, then wiped the crocodile tears off her eyes, before clutching the bag of food to her small chest. Making me to swallow with uneasiness.

Really? This was how my lunch break turned out? I was stuck with a homeless kid who had mastered the art of lying and pretence at such young age.

We hopped into the car, and I drove home. We didn't speak to each other during the ride, until we arrived at my apartment.

"Thank you so much. Back there, I thought you would leave me. They would have taken me to the orphanage." She explained, gleefully clasping her small delicate hands together.

I raised a brow. "You're too smart, and little to be six."

She tucked her tongue in her cheek, then covered her face with both palms, to hide the grin on her face. Making me break into a smile.

She hugged me again, adding more dirt to my clothes.

Urgh! I think I'll be needing another bath now. I muttered rolling my eyes in their sockets, as we head into my apartment.

Francesca settled her self on my couch, eating the food I bought for her. She had really good eating manners despite looking so hungry and scrawny.

I fished out my phone from my handbag to call a nurse. I gave her instructions on what to carry out, since I couldn't return to the hospital.

When I was done, I kept my phone down and sat on the same couch with Francesca. There was something oddly familiar about her. She bore a strikingly resemblance to someone I had seen before, but I couldn't recall where.

"How long have you been away from home?"

"Two weeks." She took a deep breath with her mouth full, then responded after a mouthful.

"Did you run away?"

She nodded.

For a silent moment, I placed my hands on my thighs, giving her a long look. Why did she run away? Was she being molested? So many questions ran through my mind, making me unsettled.

"Why?" I finally questioned.

"Because I'm tired of being a daddy's girl, I want to have a mom."

Here we go again. I rolled my eyes.

"Listen to me Francesca, I'm going to tidy you up, treat your bruise. Give you good clothes and food. After that, I'm taking you home."

She paused from the food she was eating, then looked up at me with sadness in her eyes. She took a hard dry gulp, which I suspected hurt her, because pain was evident in her face. After that.

"So, you won't be my mommy?"

I shook my head no.

She narrowed her eyes disappointedly, nodded, then stood up. Leaving the half eaten food as she headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" I asked staring at her cautiously. Wondering what next she was up to.

"Back to where you found me."

She croaked out, sniffing.

There was no way I was allowing her to return back to the streets. She could get abducted and used for child trafficking.

Before I could utter any word, she dashed out of the house.

I almost screamed out of frustration. Just what have I gotten myself into? I groaned and pressed a hand to my forehead. Suddenly feeling a malaria kind of migraine there.

"Francesca!" I called as I made to run after her, but I couldn't because my stiletto heels wouldn't let me. I almost slipped and landed face flat on the floor. But I was quick to hold unto my ground. I hurriedly discarded the stilettos, then ran after her with bare legs.

Fear climbed up my throat and made it thick. I was scared, scared she could do something terrible to hurt herself.

Suddenly, a heavy downpour of rain hit me hard, soaking and dripping from my all. I knew she was still around, since I had my gate locked, but she was no where in sight. The harsh angry rain was dumping heavy droplets of water.

"Francesca!" I screamed through the rain as I went in search of her. I was getting restless. That kid was really something.

I found her, drenched and shivering under the rain, at the side of my huge trash bin at my backyard. She violently. She was hugging her knees. My heart leaped from the sight. I felt the sudden urge to take care of her. I placed my wet hands on her shoulders, and she looked up at me with tears soaked eyes.

I was stunned because the rain had washed the dirt off her face, and it revealed a very beautiful kid. Probably the most prettiest kid I had ever come across. She was an adorable girl, a cute child. One with deep thoughts. A kid who could state known facts. And I wanted to keep her. It was silly of me, wanting to keep someone else's child. But she had made her way into my heart.

"Francesca." I called, the rain water tripled from forehead, dropped down to my nose and entered my mouth. She swatted my hands away.

"Don't want you getting cold." I implored. My voice was raspy from the swell of several emotions twirling in my heart.

"Francesca, listen to me." I said, touching her again. When she made no attempt of shoving my hands away, off her body. I spoke.

"Francesca, I can't be your mom. But I'm willing to take care of you." I assured her.

Instantly her head jerked up, and she stopped sobbing.

"You do?" She asked in a soft baby voice and it melted my heart.

"I do." I said urgently, smiling as I flicked the rain drenched hair that fell over her forehead away. And then shivered because I was starting to feel cold.

I stumbled backwards when Francesca ran and leaped into my arms, and then hugged me tightly. Wrapping her tiny arms around my neck. I hugged her back. I wouldn't mind what people would say. This beautiful creature wanted me in her world, and wanted to be in my world. And I would let her.

She broke the hug, then said.

"Your clothes are now dirty like mine." Even her smile was soft, and captivating like her eyes.

I laughed. "Yes, it is. But I would get into a fresh clean one. Now let's focus on tidying you up. You need to take a long long bath." I said carrying her in my arms.

"I stink right?" She questioned looking up at me, playing with my wet hair.

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Yes, you do. But after I get you all cleaned up. You would smell very nice." I announced touching her tiny nose and she giggled.