Skye -
I blinked rapidly, hoping she would correct herself or laugh, saying she was joking. Her words took me by surprise. She paused for a moment, and I raised my eyebrows in curiosity, wondering what she meant, but she smirked slightly.
"Clara, what do you m—"
"Miss Clara!" a young girl screamed, cutting me off. The young girl was no older than ten and stood trembling near a bush, her face streaked with tears. Her clothes were dishevelled, and she clutched her backpack tightly as if it were a shield.
"Clara—" she cried in a broken voice, running towards us. She threw herself into Clara's arms, hugging her tightly and sobbing uncontrollably.
Clara knelt down, her arms wrapped protectively around the girl, who clung to her as if she were a lifeline.
"Hey, hey, it's okay," Clara sooth
