“Is this your friend?” I asked, pointing at the teddy bear.

She nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving mine. I noticed a faint trace of a smile flicker across her lips, though it disappeared as quickly as it came.

“Why were you crying?” I tried again, hoping to get more than just nods.

She finally spoke, her voice soft and tinged with something I couldn’t quite place. “Teddy was lost,” she said, clutching the toy to her chest. “But I found him.”

“That’s good,” I replied, feeling a wave of relief. “But where are your parents? Do they know where you are?”