Promise

Mike went to the fifth row at the left side. The fourt grave. His mother. He bowed down and carefully brushed some leaves from the tombstone, then placed the roses he had brought onto it. He kneeled down and prayed.

As he got up, he saw a little girl sitting on a bench, crying. He wished his mother goodbye and went over to the girl. She looked quite young, maybe 6 or 7 years old. She wore a pretty yellow dress with blue flowers. Her hair was tied neatly into a bun. A single rose stuck in it, matching her dress. Mike sat down next to her.

"Why are you crying?", he asked, looking gently at her. The girl didn't answer.

"Are you alone? Where are your parents?" She mopped her eyes with her sleeve.

"Don't have any", she said. "I'm all alone." Mike leaned back and looked into the sky.

"Me too." Then, he hugged her closely. She continued crying for a few minutes, but dried up at last.

"There you go. See? Pain goes away." He handed her a tissue. She cleaned her snotty nose and and mopped her eyes. She stared down at her feet.

"What is your name?", Mike asked. "I am Michael, but I prefer Mike."

"Liza", she said. "Why am I here?"

"Well, I don't know. We are all here for a reason. I was murdered in the middle of the night and can only go on if I have had my revenge... I miss my mom. And my brother. But I can't go on. How did you die?"

"I was ill... I think", Liza said slowly. "Mommy and Daddy always had so much work, they didn't visit me in hospital... And no one was at my funeral..."

"Ah, I see now. You are lonely", Mike said and patted her head. "Luckily for you, I am here too. I can be your friend if you want." Liza looked at him.

"You will leave me too", she said gloomily.

"Nope, I promise. I will stay with you until you can go on. I promise." He held out his little finger. Liza streched out her small hand and hooked up.

"It's a promise", she said. Mike smiled.

"Yes."