When He Sees Me
wasn't the terrified little girl who had escaped the orphanage. Life on the streets had toughened her. She kn
ver her face, and her sweater, now too small, was ripped at the sleeves. Around her, the city roared with life-
g her focus on the crowd. It was the only way t
you h
t of her. He wore a black cassock, a rosary tucked neatly into his belt. His kind face was fra
warily, say
mell of roasted meat and fresh bread wafting
nger tearing at her insides. But she stopped.
" she
with sincerity. "You don't have to be afraid. It's common practice f
y and pulling it into her lap. She tore off a chunk of bread
our name?
if she should answer. After a
patient, "you shouldn't be out here alone. This c
ts screaming at her to leave, b
re your
ylvia dropped her gaze to the
to hear that. But listen, you don't have to stay out
n the bag. She didn't ans
ht. That's when she heard it-a voice
food . . . though Father Michael says I'm too trusting. What i
n her eyes darted
e asked, her voice sha
nked. "I didn'
Michael thinks you're too
urrowed. "How do
"You just told
ith confusion. But then his thoughts ca
s this girl possessed? How el
ad as if to clear it. This wasn't
remained steady. "Who are you, really?" he asked, hi
hild is unnatural. Something fo
tting deeper than his words. She stumbled
ood," she muttered,
rted, but Sylvia was a
grew louder,
l someone? No . . . no. I need to pray for
r it, his lips moving in silent prayer. Sylvia
her whole. Her chest heaved as she pressed herself against the c
g with me?"
r, distinct, impossible to ignore. She hadn't
the slums, she'd thought she understood the rules of the streets-trust no one
ay from
. She didn't know what had just happened or why, but one thing was clear-she couldn't let it happen
ice-or whatever it was-played over and over in her mind. She hadn't told anyone about what happened. Who would she tell? Danny
hrough the marketplace, her eyes
ard? His thoughts? T
hear," she muttered to herself.
her arms, her face tired and strained.
n it ha
im to sleep for an hou
stakable, like a whisper she wasn't supposed to hear. He
t just t
ear people'