Little Girl, Who Are You With?” I Asked.

“Hey, who are you looking for?” I asked.

A little girl, about six years old, stared up at me with big, serious eyes. “Im trying to find my mum. Have you seen her?”

I hesitated. Id only just moved into this building, and as far as I knew, the flat she was standing in front of had been empty the whole time.

“No one lives there, love,” I told her gently.

Her face crumpled, and she sank onto the stairs, crying. “Please, miss, we really need her! Dad misses her so much.”

I stood there, completely lost. I didnt have kids of my own, so I had no idea how to comfort her. Should I hug her? Offer her a cuppa? But shed never go with a stranger. Just then, my phone rang. I told her to stay put and rushed offbut when I came back, she was gone.

I couldnt stop thinking about her all evening. Later, I called my landlady, Mrs. Thompson, to ask about my neighbours.

“That flats been empty for years,” she said. “Why do you ask?”

“A little girl came by earlier, looking for her mum.”

There was a pause, as if she was remembering something. “That must be Catherines daughter but shes been gone a long time. Her husband was left with a babycouldnt stay there, moved out. The place has been empty ever since.”

“Irene,” she added, “they live nearby now. If she comes back, take her home.” She gave me the address.

Time passed, and I got busy with worklate nights, early mornings. Then, just before Christmas, I heard quiet knocking and sniffles at my door. I flung it openthere she was again, the same little girl with grey eyes, crying.

“Whats wrong? Wheres your dad?”

“Hes at home. I just want my mum,” she whispered.

Remembering the address, I dashed to find it, but this time, I asked her to wait inside. She stepped in, glanced around, and curled up on the hallway stool. When I finally found the slip of paper, she was fast asleep, tucked into a little ball. I carefully carried her to the sofa and rang Mrs. Thompson.

“Sorry to bother you, but remember that girl I told you about? Shes here now. I was going to take her home, but she fell asleep. Her dad must be worried.”

“Irene, Ill pop round to theirs. Stay by the phone.”

I hung up and just watched her sleep. Brushed a stray curl from her face. My heart achedId always wanted children. Years ago, my husband and I were happy, ready to start a family. I got pregnant, but the stress of worklong hours, no breakstook its toll. I lost the baby.

The second time, I quit my job, but fate had other plans. Another loss. And after that, no matter how hard we tried, it never happened. Eventually, my husband left. I heard he had a daughter with someone else, but I cut ties completely. Seven years alone, drifting between rented flats.

A soft knock snapped me out of it. I opened the doorand nearly dropped my tea. My ex-husband stood there.

“George? What are you doing here?”

“I came for my daughter Wait, 5 Willow Lane, right?”

“Yeah. So shes yours?” I let him in. She was still asleep, so we went to the kitchen. I put the kettle on. Never in a million years did I think Id see him again. Lifes full of surprises.

“Are we bothering you? I can wake Annie and go.”

“Let her rest. Whats going on? She keeps coming back here, knocking on that empty flat.”

George rubbed his eyes, exhausted. Then he started talking.

“Years ago, we lived here with Kate. The flat was her granddads. After we married, we moved in. Then she got pregnantI was over the moon.”

His voice cracked. “When the time came, I took her to hospital. She was crying, scared like she knew. She made me promise to take care of the baby if anything happened. There were complications. They couldnt save her.”

“Im so sorry,” I whispered, touching his arm. Hed held it in all these years, but now the tears wouldnt stop.

Just then, tiny footsteps pattered into the room.

“Daddy?”

George scooped her up, hugging her tight. “Annie, why did you run off?”

“I just wanted to find Mummy.”

“Well find her, sweetheart. Just not yet. Lets go home.”

He turned to me. “Thanks, Irene. Heres my numberif she turns up again, call me. We live close by now. She knows the way.”

“How did she even know about this flat?” I asked.

“I showed her,” he sighed. “Had to collect some things. She saw Kates photos on the walls ever since, shes been dreaming of meeting her. I told her Mummys just away, but shell come back one day.”

They left, but George called a few days later. We started talking again. Weekends became trips to the park, cafés, the cinema. Annie grew attached to meeven called me “Mum” once.

One evening, George looked at me. “Irene, move in with us. No more renting. Annie misses you. Asks about you all the time.”

“And you?”

“Me too.” He took my hands. “Ive missed you. Im sorry for everything.”

So now were together. Raising our little miracleAnnie. Every day, I thank my lucky stars for this second chance: to be a wife, a mother.

And even if Annie isnt mine by blood, that doesnt stop me from giving her all the love Ive saved up inside.