"I can't read."

I blinked and then noticed her notepad, the one where she keeps records of the lost things. I couldn't find a single decent word written on it. Yeah, maybe there was something like 'M&Ms' or letters she could have easily copied from the wrapper. Otherwise, they were all drawings of buttons, coins, anything.

She really couldn't read.

"Tell me your name."

I watched the tips of her hair turn blue.

"Please."

"W-Why are you crying?"

"Just . . . Just tell me your name," she's biting on her finger, suppressing her sobs.

"Come here," I motioned for her to come closer and pointed at my handwriting, "This letter right here is a V. See? It make the 'V' sound. This letter is --"

"Can I hug you?"

"W-Wh--," before I could even manage to say anything, I felt her wrap her arms around me, burying her face in my chest. At a loss for words, I just sat there, patting her back and stroking her hair.

"I hate you."

I tried to suppress my smile when I noticed a few strands of her hair turn white.

"Why are you smiling?" She looked up at me and when I didn't respond, she hit my chest lightly like an upset child throwing a tantrum.

I just chuckled at her childish actions.

"Stop laughing."

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, drawing circles on her back to calm her down.

"Meanie."

"It's just that you're so persistent and stubborn, you remind me of someone."

"Someone?" She sniffed, "Who?"

". . ."

"Hello?"

". . ."

"Hey, you can't sleep on the floor! It's cold!"

". . ."

"Hey, why won't you wake up?"

". . ."

"What's happening?"

". . ."

"You can't just go like this!"

". . ."

"Hold on! I'll go and call granny!"