a little girl suffering from a bone disease was abandoned on the street on a freezing snowy night by her stepmother
just as the child was losing consciousness due to the brutal winter storm a luxury vehicle unexpectedly pulled to a stop
when the door opened a wealthy gentleman immediately rushed to the little girl and did the following
Chicago’s notorious The Hawk Wind shrieked through the gaps between the skyscrapers
lashing against passers by like frigid whips the rickety wheelchair the last remaining possession
after the suburban home was foreclosed had its wheels caught in a mound of grey slushy snow right at the entrance to Millennium Park
oh heavens this blasted thing Madeline muttered under her breath her designer leather gloves gripping the handles of the chair
she kicked the wheel with the toe of her high heeled boot attempting to push it forward clad in a blazing red mink coat
a lavish gift from her late husband that she refused to part with even after being financially depleted
Madeline looked like a spark of fury against the white backdrop of the snow
sitting in the chair Sophie was huddled inward the six year old her bald head swimming inside an oversized wool hat
tried to make herself as small as possible I’m sorry Aunt Madeline
I can get down and push it myself Sophie whispered her breath puffing out in a thin stream of vapor
you stay put Madeline snapped but then noticing a few tourists glancing their way
she instantly lowered her voice switching to a saccharin unnerving tone what I mean is your little legs are too fragile
Sophie dear the doctor said your bones are delicate as glass now remember
I just can’t risk you needing any more procedures your daddy’s life insurance fund
well it’s completely run dry the comment stung Sophie’s fragile self esteem
like a needle ever since her father passed in a traffic mishap six months ago
Sophie had constantly heard Madeline discussing money money for medicine money for the house
money for food the child lowered her gaze looking at her thin shaking hands
remembering the days when her father was alive he used to lift her onto his shoulders so she could touch the twinkling
Garland lights on the Christmas tree now he was gone leaving her with a beautiful stepmother
who always looked at her with the calculating eyes of a losing stockbroker
they stopped in front of the bean the Cloud Gate sculpture the gigantic stainless steel surface
reflected the thousands of sparkling lights from Michigan Avenue but it also distorted the images of the woman
and the child one was glamorous the other frail and worn
Madeline crouched down facing Sophie she reached out and adjusted the child’s scarf
covering the skinny neck and the dark bruises left by infusion needles the gesture appeared nurturing
but Sophie felt only the coldness of the diamond studded fingers listen sweetie
Madeline sighed her voice suggesting a heartfelt confiding between two friends
we can’t stay in Chicago any longer I just spoke to your grandma in Ohio she agreed to take us in
but the bus tickets are so pricey I only have enough cash if we leave tonight go to Grandma’s
a glimmer of hope sparked in Sophie’s eyes but shouldn’t we pack our suitcases
Madeline froze for a second her gaze darting away quickly before returning to Sophie her smile brighter but utterly vacant
those clothes are old and shabby no need to lug them along once we get there I’ll buy you lovely new dresses
right now I have to hustle over to the Greyhound station across the way to stand in line for discount tickets
you know how it is Christmas Eve everyone’s trying to get home the crowds will be enormous
with that Madeline reached into her pocket and pulled out an empty matchbox something she had impulsively
picked up from the hotel bar earlier that day she slipped it into Sophie’s hand
pressing the little fingers to hold it tightly hold on to this this is your placeholder ticket
if you have this they’ll know I have my child with me but can’t I come with you it’s so big here
Sophie pleaded her voice beginning to tremble with fear Madeline made an impatient clicking sound with her tongue
please don’t make this difficult Sophie look at the snow pushing the chair across the street
right now is too dangerous do you want me to get hit by a car like your father
Sophie shook her head violently tears threatening to spill that was her absolute weakness
her deepest fear was the disappearance of a loved one then be a good girl
Madeline gently stroked Sophie’s wool hat her voice a hypnotizing whisper
just sit right here exactly here don’t roll the chair anywhere
if I come back and you’re gone I’ll assume you wandered off and I’ll have to get on the bus all by myself
you don’t want to be left alone with the boogeyman do you I promise I’ll sit still as a statue
Sophie hugged the matchbox to her chest that’s my girl Madeline stood up abruptly
she offered no parting kiss nor did she look back at Sophie even once she turned her back
and walked decisively toward the chaotic crowd her slender figure in the bright red coat
stood out against the swirling white snow her pace quickening as if she were fleeing a scene of wrongdoing
Sophie sat motionless the wind chilled her face to the bone but she dared not lift a hand to shield herself
afraid of dropping the placeholder matchbox she fixed her gaze on the red back
waiting for Madeline to turn and wave as she always did but she didn’t the red coat grew smaller
merged with the bustling flow of people and then vanished completely around the street corner
around Sophie cheerful laughter and Christmas music played but for her the world had suddenly collapsed
into a terrifying silence the snow began to fall harder dusting the fragile shoulders of the six year old
who was utterly alone in a city of millions her innocent trust slowly fracturing with every passing second
the clock on the Wrigley Building in the distance had just struck 10:00 Two hours had passed
since the red coat of Madeline disappeared and Sophie still sat there motionless as a tiny ice sculpture in the heart of Chicago
her exposed hands were numb with cold yet her fingers remained curled clutching the empty matchbox
it was the only remaining link the ticket insuring she hadn’t been abandoned the discomfort from her illness began to surge
initially it was a dull ache in her knees now it spread like a thousand stinging pins along her spine
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