ALFRED

I remember that day like it just happened yesterday. Mum had taken me to the amusement park to play and have fun. I was excited, running around, trying out almost everything. But then, something happened.

While exploring the back of the park, I got my leg stuck in this wooden trap near some bushes. I tried pulling my leg out, but it was stuck badly. I winced in pain, trying not to cry. Just then, a young girl, probably about 9 or 10, showed up from nowhere.

Without saying much, she walked straight to me and started helping.

“Auuuuuuch!” I screamed loudly, it hurt so badly—but she didn’t stop.

“Hang in there, it’s almost out.” She assured me while pulling it out. Her face looked serious, and all she wanted was to help me get free. After some effort, she finally pulled my leg out. It was scratched and swollen.

She reached into the small bag she carried and brought out a clean white cloth. Gently, she wrapped it around my leg with so much intentionality. I was baffled.

How did someone, so young, know how to do that? She was quiet, calm, and focused, and her flawless skin glowed effortlessly while the sun cast rays on her.

“Who taught you how to dress wounds like this?” I asked, groaning.

She smiled a little and said, “Don’t talk too much. You need to rest.” Then she told me to sit on a nearby pavement while she ran off to get something she called balm to help reduce the swelling.

I watched her disappear around the corner, the angel who had literally saved my life.

Mum showed up some minutes later, looking very worried.

“Alfred! I’ve been looking all over for you! Why did you leave the…” She hadn’t completed her statement when his gaze went to my leg.

“Oh my goodness! My baby… What happened to your leg?” she asked curiously, kneeling down and examining it.

“I got caught in something. I don’t even know what it was,” I said quietly.

“You are becoming really careless these days…look what you’ve done to yourself!”

She looked at the white cloth wrapped around my leg and asked, “Who did this?”

“Uhm…just a random girl… she pulled me out of the wood trap and helped with the bandage.”I said.

“Let’s go to the hospital. That leg needs proper cleaning,” she said, helping me up gently.

Immediately, the girl came back, holding a small bottle of balm. With her was an older woman, who I guessed was her mum.

“Good day ma. I got some balm for him.” She cooed, stretching her arm to give mum the bottle.

I couldn’t say a thing, I couldn’t fathom what swept me off my feet about her—The fact that she was caring or her beauty, even.

Mum stepped forward and said, “Oh… I presume you were the one who helped him with the bandage. Thank you, but I’ll be taking him to a hospital for proper treatment. We don’t need any homemade balm,” Mum spoke nonchalantly.

I could tell from the girl’s face that the comment stung a little. Even her mum looked a bit uncomfortable. I wanted to say something, anything—but my mum was already leading me away.

“Let’s go! I wouldn’t want your wounds to get infected. Hurry!” She grabbed me while running towards the car.

As we got into it, I turned around one last time to look at the girl. She was still standing there, holding the balm, looking quietly at me.

While Mum drove off, I watched her walk away with the older woman.

Poor girl!

I could tell she felt bad because mum had rejected her assistance, so right there… I vowed to make it up to her.

But…

I didn’t even get to ask her name.

“Wait, Mum! Stop!” I kept screaming, but mum turned a deaf ear.

“Alfred, I need to get you to the hospital, don’t be naughty!” She kept driving while I couldn’t stop looking back to see the Angel who had saved me.