Viola walked aimlessly along the sidewalk as the London rain grew heavier, drenching the streets beneath its relentless downpour. Her mind had gone completely numb. The image of those clear eyes belonging to the teenage girl in the café continued spinning endlessly inside her head, tearing apart the fragile peace she had spent the past month struggling to build. Her eyes burned and swelled from the tears that kept falling uncontrollably.
A part of her heart screamed, begging her to turn around, return to the café, and hold her daughter tightly in her arms. But the overwhelming guilt and fear of the past immediately locked away every ounce of courage she had left. She felt far too tainted and cowardly to appear as a mother.
"Why did you have to come here, sweetheart?" Viola whispered painfully, her voice caught in her throat.
