Richard went to the front yard with a watering kit and some planter seeds and got to work. After a while, Richard looked up and covered his view with one of his hands as the scorching sun radiated the surrounding area.

He wiped the sweat off his forehead as his throat got dry. Thinking about getting a sweet, cold drink, Richard placed the belongings aside on the planter wall and planned to go back inside the building. He hoped Emily wouldn’t mind that he took a break since he worked hard and did as he was told.

Just as Richard headed to the doorknob, a faint voice stopped him in his place, almost as if someone sang a song to themselves. He turned and spotted a little girl standing in the middle of the road. She appeared to be a brunette, wearing camo pants, a black shirt, and brown shoes. Her jade green backpack seemed to show that she could be a grade-schooler.

He glanced from both sides of the road. Nobody else was there. He walked closer and called out to her.

“Hey, kid. Are you lost? I could help you if you want.”

The girl turned to him, then glanced all around her.

“Um...” She whispered, unsure of what to say.

“Why are you standing in the middle of the road like that? I—" Out of the corner of his eyes, a car sped by on the road. Seeing as how it didn’t show signs of stopping in her tracks, he ran out to the middle of the road and got in front of the girl. “Look out!”

The car slammed its brakes hard just before it hit them. The pedestrian stormed out of the vehicle and marched toward Richard.

“Hey, what is wrong with you? Do you want to get yourself killed?”

“Me?”

“Yeah, for doing something so stupid!”

“Are you kidding me? You almost ran over this poor girl!”

“What girl? I don’t see her.” The driver raised an eyebrow.

“What are you, blind? She’s right here!” Richard pointed. When he turned around, however, she was nowhere to be seen. “Huh? But I saw her; she was right here!” He fell on his knees near the sidewalk.

“Uh-huh.” The driver rolled his eyes and stomped back to his car. “Don’t do something like that again, or else you’ll regret it, idiot.” They drove around him in a huff.

“Ritchie, are you ok?” Emily slammed the doors open and rushed over to Richard’s side. “I saw you out there.”

“Emily?”

“Yeah, what were you thinking going out on the street like—?”

“I saw her; I had to protect that girl, even though I never...” He shook his head in confusion. “She was there, I know it. You believe me, don’t you?”

“Of course, I do,”

“I’m not going crazy, am I?”

“Calm down.” She placed her hand on his shoulder, and he looked up to meet her gaze. “Why don’t we go back inside and watch your favorite show? I recorded the episode as I promised.” Richard nodded, and the two went back toward the entrance (while also picking up the supplies by the planter wall).