The sound of rain was falling. With a cheek pressed against the cold cobblestones, the young child stares blankly at the sky. Raindrops falling from the gray sky mercilessly steal away body heat; the wet clothes are heavy, and there is no longer any sensation in the fingertips. I'm hungry. Yesterday, and the day before that, always. But there was no strength left to even cry. I exhale a small breath. The white, blurred breath immediately melts into the rain and vanishes. "...Sleepy." Vision blurs. I felt that if I just slept like this, it would become easier. It was then. —Shhh. The sound of the rain changes. Someone is there. A heavy, quiet presence stopped right beside me. I slowly look up. Standing there was a terribly beautiful man. The man said nothing. He only had his eyes wide open, as if he had caught his breath. His hands are trembling. Why is he making that face? Even though we've only just met. "...Ah." The man lets out a raspy voice. "I finally... found you..." That voice sounded terribly painful. In the next moment, I am gently picked up. It's warm. It was the first time. To be held by someone like this. "...I'm sorry." The man's voice is trembling. "I was too late." I don't understand. What is he apologizing for? But listening to that voice apologizing while crying made the depths of my chest ache just a little bit. "Hungry..." When I mutter in a raspy voice, the man's eyes waver greatly. He looked as if he were deeply wounded. "...Yes." "Next time." The man leans his forehead against mine as if praying. "Next time, I will never let you go hungry." The rain grows stronger. The world blurs. I can't see anything anymore. Yet at the very end, only the sensation of a hand gently stroking my head and a low, quiet voice remained. "I will surely come for you in the next life." And there, the dream ended.