CeCe released a long tired sigh while staring at the flowing stream quietly. The water reflected the morning light beautifully, but no matter how peaceful the atmosphere looked, her chest still felt heavy.
"Why wouldn't I think about her?" she muttered eventually. "She's my mother, of course."
Soraya, who sat beside her calmly, turned slightly and looked at her in amusement. "Really?"
CeCe rolled her eyes immediately.
"I don't recall knowing my real mother," she said honestly. "I don't even blame her anymore. Maybe she ran away. Maybe she died while giving birth to me. Maybe she had some crazy reason. I don't know." She picked up a small stone and threw it into the stream lazily. "But Athena…" her voice softened unconsciously, "Athena was always there no matter how much I pushed her away."
Thinking of Athena smiling happily in the forest stabbed her heart painfully again.
