The little girl suddenly looked admist the bleak group of people, scared and utterly shocked. Her shining curly golden-honey hair bounced inside its pigtails as she whirled her head in all directions, eagerly searching for her mother, who was now nowhere to be found. All she saw was unfimilar figures grazing past her in tight bunches like she didn't even exist, the icy, carefree shadows casting remnants of darkness onto her. These people immersed her in great fear and anxiety.
   "Mommy?" She cried in anticipation, still whirling around.
   No answer.
   "Mommy, where are you?"
   And yet, still no answer from her sweet mother that she caressed so deeply.
   She began running against the crowd of people with her smooth ivory-violet dress beautifully flowing behind her, frantically searching for her guide and love.
    "Can I help you, little one?" A sudden voice asked, that of a man in his older age. He knelt down in front of her and put his pale fingers on her chin and just stared at her rounded face for minutes while the crowd made a slitted path around them. His eyes were utterly piercing, seeming to cascade and swirl in a deep blue beauty for miles on end.
   She stood firmly, now staring into the eyes of the man with her own, barely reaching over them at her current height. She a little over six years old.
   "I'm looking for my mommy." she shispered softly with fear in her voice.
   The man blinked bluntly but said nothing for a moment as the wind blew into his face.
   "You're looking for your mother, are you?"
   She nodded, her majority of curls bouncing in front of the corners of her eyes.
   He took her hand and starting guiding her through the crowd, acting as her leader. Still she just stared, not at the people now looking down at her, but at the man. She didn't stare at his wrinkled and rough face, nor his grayed and aged hair, but she stared into his eyes which showed deep caring and compassion in a sympathetic manner for her. His eyes made her feel loved.
   "Will you help me, old man?" she asked softly, so softly that she almost wasn't heard in the echo of footsteps coming from the hurrying dusk crowd.
   A smile emerged from his windblown cracked lips.
   "Yes. I will help you, young one. But may I ask your name first?"
   "My name is Emily." she said urgently, her mind eagerly thinking of her mother's beautiful face and calming voice.
   "Well, Emily, we'll find your mother for you, I promise." he assured proudly. Emily smiled brightly.
   They walked the next few feet together.
   "Emily, what does your mother look like?"
   "Well...." her eyes rose up toward the darkening evening sky and grew wide with thought, "she has long brown hair and dark brown eyes. She was wearing a red shirt and long shorts with a pretty butterfly necklace."
   The man gazed around vividly, searching for her mother.
   "Is that her over there?" he pointed forward and motioned for Emily to look. In the distance next to a now dark shop, there was a woman with some sort of necklace shining brightly, just as described.
   "Mommy!" Emily raced forward, her hair streaming backward as easy and carefree as thin thread as she slammed through the crowd at top speed with her mother in plain sight.
   The mother turned around, her eyes wide with surprise as she searched for the screaming child.
   "Oh Emily!" She cried, embracing her tightly inside her arms with her head down, trying not to cry. "I've been looking everywhere for you, sweetheart! I was so scared! Please don't ever run away from me again!" Emily hugged her tightly as well, crushing the air inside her lungs as she sobbed loudly with relief. The whole crowd was looking at them now, attracting a theatrical scene.
   The mother stood up, holding Emily's hand as she walked over toward the man.
   "Thank you so much for helping my child." she said in relief, her tear-filled eyes shimmering in the silver moonlight. "I'm very grateful. What can I ever do to repay you?"
   The man smiled again, almost humored with her words.
   "I know what it's like to lose the child you love. It gives you eternal dread and everlasting grief. Your words are plenty enough for me, but I need just one thing. Just try to keep her out of danger and temptation....I want you to take good care of your Emily....she is absolutely darling and will emerge into a beautiful woman just like you." he started to walk off, leaving the woman and child behind.
   "Are you sure?" she called after him with an echoing, loud voice.
   He glared back, still smiling and waved. The mother now recognized him and realized who he was. She had seen his face on the news before. His daughter had died in a fire a few years back.
   "I'm positive."