'i'll just run away since nobody seems to notice me!'
the six year old's words bounced around in her mind, her mom's face full of sadness as she watched her daughter run out the door as fast as her tiny legs could carry her. she gently hid her hair under the tiny beanie she'd taken moments before, praying to anyone that was listening that she would find safety.
as she rounded what felt like the millionth corner, ruby felt transported to a whole other world. flowers of every color surrounded her, a beautiful blanket embracing the lost child.
"whoa." she grinned softly, fingers running over every petal, the fear of being alone completely erased. she found a blue flower that matched her mother's eyes perfectly, a painful ache of sadness ran through her body. as she traveled further into the garden, she found a bench, where an elderly woman sat facing a beautiful fountain.
"m-miss?" ruby said quietly, standing a fair distance away from the bench. the woman turned around, now revealing she'd been holding a small kitten this whole time. as she took in the appearance of this small child, clothes covered in dirt, blond hair caked with leaves.
"oh, sweetheart, where's your mum?" her sweet voice echoed out, scooting over so ruby could sit next to her. "are you okay?" she asked gently, brown eyes looking down at her lovingly.
ruby tiptoed over to the lady, barely touching the bench, much less sitting on it. "i.. i..." she stammered out as a cold breeze blew. "i... i ran away.." she finally got out. "please, miss... can I stay here?"
"oh, child, your parents must be worried sick! it isn't safe for a little girl like you to run around by yourself!" she shook her head as she took off her coat, holding it out to her. "here, love, put this on. it's cold tonight and i doubt your mum would hate to find you sick and freezing. come now, we'll go inside."
the pair walked into what seemed to be a large community center. "now tell me, lovely, what is your name?" the elderly woman asked once they'd gotten a seat by the fireplace.
ruby blinked softly, her eyes on the kitten sitting in between them. "ruby.." she murmured quietly, tiny fingers reaching for its paw. "you have a lovely cat.."
the elderly woman laughed softly at the sight. "well, thank you, ruby, but im afraid he isn't mine. I'd found him outside moments before you came up to me.." she smiled small, watching the girl pick him up and giggle as he snuggled into her chest. "but I see he's taken a fancy to you."
ruby giggled again, this time scratching between his small grey ears. "he needs a home, doesn't he?" she asked, looking into his eyes with her own, the colors matching perfectly. "i have one. well, had, if mommy hasn't kicked me out yet.." she said sadly, eyes filling with tears. "I-I'm in trouble, aren't I?"
"no, chicken. your mum wouldn't kick you out, and you're not in trouble. you just want to go home.. tell you what, i'll-"
"ruby!" jenna yelled out, running over to hug her. "love, don't ever run away again! I'm so sorry, miss, if my daughter bothered you."
"oh, please, she was quite the opposite. she reminds me of my granddaughter. just be gentle with her. she's had a long journey." the woman smiled at the pair. "and as for you, miss ruby, why don't you take him with you?" she held the kitten out gently as ruby's eyes lit up brightly.
"can we, mommy, can we? I'll feed him and bathe him and take care of him, I promise!" she begged as jenna looked down at the kitten, laughing as he seemed to want to play with her hand.
"okay, okay, we can take him home. just.. please don't run away again, hm?" she asked softly, playing with her hair. "thank you, ma'am, for taking care of her."
"oh, it was nothing. i think the garden had more to do with that than I. i'll be seeing you, miss ruby." she laughed and patted her arm gently.
as jenna walked through the garden, now carrying her own kitten and her newly adopted one, she could see what the old lady meant. the flowers gave a small path back to her own home, leaving ruby to look back and pull a few of them off, stuffing then in her pockets.
"if you like something pretty, take it with you." she smiled to herself as she held the kitten close, drifting off to sleep in her mother's arm.
