She curls up into the warmth of the undergrowth as big, strong arms gentle enfold her. She sighs slowly and snuggles up into the warmth of the body protecting her. A tear rolls gently down her upturned cheek and falls slowly from her chin onto the leaves below.
A hand moves across and with thumb outstretched, carefully wipes away the tear stain from her grubby face. A face leans forward and places a long, gentle kiss on forehead.
As the girl slumbers the presence holds gently onto her, cradling her in their arms.
The sun starts to rise and glints through the broken bracken onto the sleeping child.
She stirs in her sleep, nuzzling herself further into the warmth of the body next to her.
A bird flutters onto a nearby branch and quizzically tilts it's head as it looks down upon the girl lying alone in the undergrowth.
She looks cold and still, blood has pooled around her and run out onto the leafy debris. Her chest barely moves as she breathes. A tiny little broken body.
The bird looks up to the sky and opens it beak to sing out to the world.
A mournful eulogy of pain and fear and worry no one can understand as the world awakens and people start to move around the town. Footsteps upon footsteps walk past the child sleeping in the undergrowth, children laughing and adults gossiping, all going about their everyday business. Just like normal.
The bird moves closer to the street, singing out his mournful cry as he keeps one eye on the barely moving girl. He bursts from the bush singing loudly and dashes to and fro beside the people walking by.
A child running past starts to laugh and point at the funny little bird dancing around. His mother impatiently drags the child away toward the school.
The bird stops and looks down sadly then turns to gaze back at the child laying still in the bush.
Suddenly thunderous footsteps and slobbering breaths pounce upon the bird who flits into life straight into the sky. The dog pounces upward as the bird turns midflight and swallow dives straight into the bush.
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