's P

rong, something worse happens." I murmur under my breath,

g a meeting in an office, he wants to meet at a

here for about two months. Since my arrival, I've been feeling uneasy, a

out of my life when all I wanted was to confess my love

n different now. Daisy and I would be living together because I'm cert

her hatred. Living without her has been the punishment I've inflicted on myself for years, and it feels like

en the chauffeur halts the c

ened, Henry? Why did

nk the car

or the meeting. What is

m already late." I order hi

matically as my eyes fall on a little girl standing outside the

something magical about this little girl that captivate

I climb out of my car and rush towards her without a second thought. I feel like

, clasping her hand when a

at me in fear. I don't know why but I don't like this

d softly ask, "What are yo

is tone on somebo

), Uncle. Why did you push me?"

wanted Ice cream, you could tell your parents. Where are they?" I ask in

y forgot about my mommy." Her sweet voi

is she,

ll you? You're a stranger, and my mommy ins

ell, that

, I need to go back otherw

sudden ache in my heart

in her eyes as soon as she hears the word ice cream, and a smile flashes on my face. S

er?" She asks, putting both her hands o

, not." I reply,

ap me?" She asks, sq

y something, a

ere? How did you reach to o

e girl's nam

oman Hope

er. "Teacher, I wante

oman is h

came her

response. "I wanted

ss the road alone. It's dangerous." She e

re of your students." I interru

erfere?" She looks

me," Hope explains, causing th

at me with gratitude. "Thank God you

taking care of kids," I instruct

e? Only the mere thought of anything happening to he

my mommy?" Hope ask

t called her. She i

ing across her face, and I feel an ache i

cream, which makes her eyes twinkle. My meeting has become a forgotten business now,

le." She gives

feeling with her? I wonder, smiling

her. "Teacher, can I go and

e the school. When your mo

s before taking my hands in he

eading through me. It feels as if her touch has the powe

lead her towards

van, and Hope's eyes widen with excitement

uld I choose?" she as

he options with her. "Well, Hope, it's all

finger tapping her chin. I don't kn

a have strawberry flavour too." She share

chocolate," I tell her, causing

ve chocolate." She grins, fl

kay, kiddo."

e cream vendor a

eam, Hope looks up at me with a w

h her is so intense, as if our paths have c

Hope, and she holds it in her small han

her ice cream while I just watch her. After so many years, I

cle." She exclaims, her c

er joy. "Anyway, Hope. I w

ises her brows at me,

If you thought this, then why did

gle, bringing imme

protected me like my mommy. I trust you." She touches my heart

nd press my lips a

e her things." She says, looking at

." I smile, softly flicking her nose, and

used, raising my eyebrows as she

want me to hold it for you?"

her ice cream with you because..." She pauses and thinks, averting her eyes for a few seconds before

she pulls her hand back and laughs, ca

ipe a smudge of chocolate from

, but I can clearly see the mischievousness in her eyes.

ave a lick, she pulls it back again and

I feel like gobbling her up. Eve

et, and to my surprise, she immedia

was just teajing (teasin

I was also teajing you. Kiddo, I didn't get sad." I p

s in conversation with me, forgetting about the

your ice cream. It's melting."

re licking her ice cream again, and I watch

th Hope, but I'm certain about one thing: I