Chapter 37

It was such a gentle touch.

The hand stroking her hair, caressing her cheek, was so soft.

It felt as though she had become someone deeply precious to another.

Adele felt as if she had turned back into a little girl again, cradled in her mother's care.

Mom...

Without meaning to, her eyes grew damp.

It was a spell more powerful than any magic.

Whenever she was hungry, or frightened, or hurt and sorrowful, or angry, that single word — Mom — had always been enough to fix everything.

But it was a spell she could never cast again.

"Hic... Mom..."

"Adele... it's me..."

A familiar voice drifted to her as though from within a dream.

At that, Adele slowly surfaced from sleep, back into reality.

Chris!

Right — she'd gotten engaged to him today.

She must have drifted off the moment she climbed out of the bath, worn out…