**The Unexpected Encounter**

When Annabelle woke the next morning she felt refreshed. She said goodbye to her father and headed to the exit. Once again, she stopped at the child's headstone. This time, she decided to weed around it too. As she finished and prepared to leave, an elegant woman caught her eye. The woman was approaching the grave.

"May I help you, child?" she asked.

"No, ma'am. I was just weeding around this stone. It's so beautiful. I wanted to remove the weeds and show the young boy that although he is gone he is still special." Annabelle responded shyly. She silently hoped that the woman would not suspect that she was a runaway.

"That is very sweet of you. Why are you here so early?" the woman asked inquisitively.

"Visiting my father's grave, ma'am." Annabelle replied. Her stomach was in knots. "Have a good day," she said as she started to walk away.

"He's my son," the woman said. " I thank you for cleaning his headstone. Unfortunately, I have neglected it since becoming ill. My youngest son does what he can do to help take care of me, but he refuses to come here. One day, I will be with my little Theo. For now, however, Jasper is all that I have." Her voice weary and sad.

Annabelle looked up into the face. She had never imagined that she would meet someone so elegant, let alone the mother of this young boy. The woman couldn't be more than forty. Yet, when Annabelle looked into her eyes she could see the wisdom within. She could also see the pain and the beginning of life draining from her. She knew the look all too well. It was the same look that in her fathers eyes the last few months before he died.

"How did he pass? If you don't mind me asking."

"He and Jasper were playing cowboys and Indians in the woods. Jasper was the Indian while Theo was the cowboy. Jasper ran at Theo to attack him, playfully. They didn't realize that there was a rock hidden beneath some leaves. Theo tripped and hit his head on the rock. According to the doctors, he died instantly and felt no pain." She paused, as though seeing it all over again. "Our family was never the same." 

"I still remember his smile and the sparkle of his blue eyes when he laughed. He was only eight," she said as tears began to creep down his cheeks.

Annabelle could see that despite all the years that had gone by, the pain of losing her son had not left. Annabelle had hoped that the pain she felt from losing her father would go away, or at least be less intense over time. Now, she knew that the pain would never end. 

"Oh, look at me," the woman exclaimed,"I'm a mess. I'm sorry dear. I didn't mean to break down on you. You don't need to hear about an old woman's past. Tell me child, what is your name?"

Annabelle hesitated for a moment, debating on rather she should give her name or make one up. In the end, she decided to be honest. "Annabelle. and you are?"

"Such a beautiful name for suck a lovely young lady. My name is Branwen."

"It is a pleasure to meet you. I must be on my way. Enjoy time with your son." 

Branwen reached out and touched her arm. "Would you like to go and get breakfast with me? I'd rather not eat alone. It would be my treat."

Annabelle was hungry and, until that moment, realized that she had not put much thought in how she was going to eat. She thought about it for a moment and decided that it would not hurt to accept Branwens offer. Especially since she was not sure when her next warm meal would be. "Thank you, that would be lovely." 

Branwen touched the angel stone one last time, before taking Annabelle's hand and heading toward the entrance.

Once outside the gate, they walked to Branwens car. Annabelle paused before getting too close. She was worried that she was too dirty to get into the shiny, black Mercedes. 

Seeming to read her mind, Branwen opened the door for Annabelle, and gestured for her to get in. 

They made small talk as they headed into town. The closer they came to the city limits, the more anxious Annabelle became. She was worried that someone would see her and attempt to make them stop. Luck seemed to be with her this morning. Not only did no one see her, Branwen continued driving rather than stopping at a restaurant in town.

It wasn't long before they were driving through the richer outskirts. Annabelle looked at the gated communities with their luxurious houses. She dreamed of one day living in a house such as these. She knew that it was just a dream, and could never be a reality, but she was okay with that.

The car slowed, bringing Annabelle out of her daydream. Branwen had turned the car into a perfectly manicured driveway. Not far from the entrance stood a gate that said "Cliffton Country Club" and had an intercom system.

As Branwen entered her entry code, and the gates groaned to life, Annabelle started getting nervous. "I don't belong in a place like this," she thought. She knew that she would stand out, especially the way she was dressed. In her anxiety, she didn't notice that the car had started moving again.

Branwen gave her a reassuring glance. "Don't worry, darling, it will be fine. There's a small clothing shop inside where I can get you other clothes, if that would make you more comfortable."

Annabelle was dumbfounded. How could she have known what was going through her head? Before she could think of something to say a young man in a burgundy vest was opening her door.

Stepping out of the car, she admired her surroundings. Everything seemed perfect and elegant. She wondered if all of this was just a dream. She felt that it had to be one because things like this do not happen to people like her.

Branwen walked around the car and put her hand on Annabelle's shoulder. With a gentle smile, she led Annabelle towards the door.

Just in front of the door, Annabelle froze. "I can't go in there looking like this. I will only embarrass you. I'm sorry."

Branwen gave a hushed giggle. "Don't be silly, Annabelle. I do not care what these people think. But, if it bothers you so, we can purchase you an outfit at the shop. And if you want to take a shower, you can use the private gym showers." 

Still unsure of what to think about everything, Annabelle hesitated in her response. "Are you sure?" she asked. "Are you sure that it's not too much trouble? I really do not want to put you out. I do not have the money to buy new things, especially anything from such a rich place as this."

Branwen, gently, brought her closer to her. Her eyes sparkled when Annabelle looked at her. "Annabelle, if I did not want to do something, I wouldn't suggest it. So, let's get in here and see what we can find for you and then we will get us some breakfast. And no more worrying about things. I have it covered!" 

Everything seemed like a dream. Despite the initial anxiety, Annabelle thoroughly enjoyed herself, and enjoyed the company of the elder woman. She felt that she was finally being heard, and that she was actually wanted as more than the punching bag and slave that her mother and mother's boyfriend had treated her as the past two years. Branwen treated her like a human being. She spoke to her as an equal. 

To Branwen, Annabelle wasn't just some kid, or even a child. Branwen saw her as the young woman that she was. For the first time in years she felt as though she had finding found a purpose. She had known from the moment that she had seen Annabelle pulling the weeds at her son's grave that Annabelle was meant to be with her.