AN: Hey, guys! It's been long since I've posted anything! I feel so out of place right now. It's like I've been separated from FanFiction for so long haha:)I don't really know what to say. Um, I guess I'll just say that this is the first chapter of a story I thought up a few days ago and I hope you like it. I haven't written anymore chapters in advance, but if this gets good responses, I'll write some in advance, so I'll have them to post... So, it's up to you guys! Tell me if you like it... I LOVE feedback!

Rachel POV

Early Saturday mornings are always my favorite time to go on jogs in Central Park. There aren't many people out, but I'm definitely not lonely. I checked my iPhone and it said it was Saturday, June 7th, 2014. 5:08 A.M. I tucked it securely in my jacket pocket where I could see it. NYC is infamous for muggings, right?

I took a left where I usually wouldn't, but I felt like taking a new route. I was tired of the same old sidewalk I jogged along every morning. Mid-thought, out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw a little hand sticking out from behind a huge oak tree. I wasn't sure what to think. People leave trash in Central Park daily, maybe some little girl had set her doll down and forgot it yesterday. I took 4 or 5 more steps until I thought I better go check just to make sure. It was an awfully small hand, but maybe not the size of a baby doll.

I jogged over to the tree and around it to where I saw the hand. Leaning up against it was a small child. A dark-hair girl with long curls and a dirty face. I could tell she had been crying by her puffy eyes. She was clutching a stuffed pink rabbit, holding on to it for dear life. I bent down next to her and looked her body over. On her legs were pants that were too short, revealing a swollen ankle. On her torso, she wore an old souvenir NYC t-shirt that was too big for her. She was a mess, but she was still beautiful.

I reached my hand out to touch her and wake her to ask where her parents are and what she's doing here. She didn't respond, so I tapped her again. And again, but she still wouldn't wake up. Her small, sleeping body didn't even acknowledge me until I accidentally hit her ankle as I sat down in front of her. With her eyes still closed, she winced, but still didn't wake.

I put one arm under her knees, and the other was used to support her back as I lifted her into my lap. She was as light as a feather. And it was then, when I realized how much her spine stuck out. The large t-shirt hid it to the naked eye, but when I felt it was when it really worried me. This child wasn't just separated from her parents and just looking for comfort in the night. She was running (hence the ankle) from neglect.

I thought about calling the police. Of course that was an instinct, but I just wanted to hold her. There was something about her I found comfort in. Maybe the fact that she was so young and defenseless and I just wanted to help her and not let her get sent off. I held her in my arms for a few minutes, rocking her slightly and stroking her face until she began to stir. I saw her eyes flutter open and I felt like I could melt into her eyes. They were brown with warm, specks of green, creating a hazel.

When her eyes opened, I expected her to be startled, but it was almost as if she was relieved. She looked comfortable the way she fit in my arms so perfectly. I stroked her forehead one last time and tried to give her a warm smile. She didn't return it, but just stared at me. Everything was silent and still for a moment until` she shifted in my arms.

"I-I"m sorry. I'm not trying to hurt you, I'm just trying to help. Do you want me to put you down?" I asked her. She shook her head, no. I smiled a little.

"Sweetie, what happened?" I asked her. "Are you ok?"

"My foot." she stated, glancing down at her ankle. I nodded.

"Why are you here? Where are your mommy and daddy?"

"Mommy said run." she said.

I wasn't sure what to say to her. She looked so brave, but at the same time it was hard to tell because of the bags under her eyes caused from exhaustion.

"Why did your mommy say run?" I asked.

"I'm tired," she said as her eyelashes fluttered, trying to keep herself awake.

"I know," I nodded.

I stood up and positioned her in my arms so that her head was head was resting on my shoulder, her arms wrapped around me, and her legs dangling down by my sides. I started walking back to the loft and soon, I could feel her breathing deepen and I realized she was sleeping again.

There was a lot more to this small, beautiful soul's story than I realized. There just had to be more.

AN: BTW, this has not been BETA read! I'm sorry. Any and all mistakes are mine. And, I do not own Apple, Glee, or anything else mentioned in this chapter concerning or mentioning a specific product or brand. The only thing I own is the storyline and the character Ella... Thanks for reading! Favorite, Follow, and Review!