At his next words, Amber's eyes opened wide and she almost dropped her phone.
When she explained the situation to Mrs. Ferguson, she was allowed to leave immediately and without saying another word she broke into a sprint. Her eyes stung as she hailed a taxi. It wasn't known if it was because of the wind or because of the tears.
Telling the driver the address, she slipped into the backseat. Her hands placed on her face, she tried not to think of him. Yet her thoughts betrayed her and went back to the day when she first met him.
....................... ....................... .............................
She sat there on the ground, trembling. Because of both the cold and the fear. The nails on her fingers were all chewed until she bled. She clutched the edge of her dress in fear as she looked towards the door of the room. Someone was trying to open it.
She crawled into the corner of the room and placed her trembling hands over her ears to block out the sounds. She closed her eyes tightly, tears spilling out of them.
'No! Please, don't open the door!'
Suddenly, with a loud bang, the door broke on its hinges and fell to the floor.
She couldn't take it anymore and let out a few whimpers. "Ple... Please,... I don't want to... Please... Don't.."
"It's fine if you don't want to." Said the person who was walking towards her.
She opened her eyes in surprise. The person crouched in front of her and slowly stretched out his hand.
She was terrified but the person in front of her was cautiously getting close to her like she was a small animal.
She let him slowly get closer. He placed his hand on top of her head and softly patted as if reassuring her.
"It's okay now." He said in low voice. "It's okay now. They won't hurt you anymore."
"R-really?" She asked, unable to believe in such a fantasy.
"Really." He said, smiling. "All the people that were hurting you are going to get punished for their bad deeds. They won't be able to hurt you anymore. Now, let's get you out of this room."
This old man, whom she had never met before, treated her kindly. He brought her out of a prison she thought she would never be able to escape. She sat in his arms as she looked at the research center getting smaller and fading into the distance.
She looked up at the man. He smiled. "Do you have a name?"
"Do....I? She asked in return.
"Then let me give you one." He said. "You've got pretty amber eyes... So how about 'Amber'?"
"...Amber...?"
"Yes. Amber." He grinned.
"...Okay..." She felt a strange emotion bubbling up inside of her. Until then, she had only known terror and grief, but now she felt a weird feeling. As if some hole inside of her had been filled...
That man introduced himself as Keaton. He let her stay in his home and fed her warm meals. She had never known that there were so many different types of food.
Then, one day, he said, "Amber, do you want to stay with me?"
"With you?" Amber asked. "I am staying with you, though."
"Not now," Keaton said. "Forever."
"Fo-forever?" She asked, apprehensive. "I can?"
"Yes. But if you do, you have to call me 'gramps'."
Tears filled her eyes as she hugged the man. "Gramps. I want to stay."
"Mm." He smiled as he softly patted her back. "I'm too old to have a six-year-old granddaughter, though."
.................... ...................... ......................
The taxi reached its destination and she got off. She asked directions to where he was and slowly opened the door to his hospital room. She entered silently, to not disturb the old man.
He was still sleeping. She walked towards him and sat on the stool next to the bed.
"Don't die, old man." She whispered. "Not yet. Give me a few more years with you..."