The Miracle

The little girl from next door stood on my porch, tears streaming down her face as she cradled her stiff, cold hamster. "Please, Mrs. Vance," she sobbed, holding it out to me. "Make him wake up." I knelt down and gently patted her head. "Oh honey, I can't do that. Once something is dead, it stays dead forever." She stomped her foot, her sadness instantly replaced by accusation. "Liar! You're lying! I saw you dead in the woods yesterday, and you came back!" My hand flew to my mouth to stifle a gasp, realizing exactly what she had seen.