The Bond Between Us novel Chapter 135

Anastasia's eyes welled up when she heard this. Grabbing the little girl's hand, she said, "Come, I'll take you to grab some grub." She didn't care about the girl's grubbiness and just scooped her up, heading towards her car.

Herman was taken aback when he saw the girl in Anastasia's arms. He had seen this girl in their neighborhood before.

"What was she up to?" Herman asked. "How come she's here all by herself?"

Gently stroking the girl's cheek, Anastasia said, her voice heavy, "She was hungry, scrounging for bread in the trash bin. How could her parents treat such a sweetheart like this?"

Resting quietly in Anastasia's arms, the little girl seemed to enjoy the warmth.

Looking at the bright eyes of the girl, her dirty clothes, messy hair, and ill-fitting shoes, Herman felt a lump in his throat. "Do you know this girl?" He asked Anastasia.

"Yeah, I've seen her in the neighborhood," Anastasia replied. "Last time, she was starving, so I took her home and cooked for her. Her name is Pattie, and lives in building six. I think her parents might favor boys over girls. I tried to get community aid, but it was no use."

"I've seen her in the neighborhood, too," Herman said, trying to roll up the girl's sleeves. But the girl quickly hid her hands behind her back, scared.

Anastasia said softly, "Pattie, we mean no harm. Can we take a look at your arm?"

Pattie seemed to trust Anastasia. She looked at her, then slowly rolled up her sleeve, revealing her bruised arms.

She was so thin, her arms full of bruises, and her little hands were rough with many tiny wounds. It was easy to tell she had to do chores often.

Anastasia and Herman both felt a pang of pain and anger at the sight, but they kept it to themselves in front of the child. "Anastasia, I'll drop you off at work, then I'll take Pattie to grab some food and buy her some clothes," Herman said.

Anastasia wanted to stay with them, to spend more time with Pattie, but Lauren called her to a meeting.