Hazel’s mother hurried toward her, her heels clicking on the pavement, excitement bubbling over. Without hesitation, she embraced Hazel tightly, the years of separation dissolving in that instant.
“You’ve grown so much… I almost didn’t recognize you,” she exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with pride. “Look at you, taller and more beautiful than ever.” With a mother’s tender touch, she cupped Hazel’s face, as if trying to bridge the years lost between them.
Tears welled in Hazel’s eyes as she gazed at the woman who had been a distant memory, now so real and close. After all this time, they were finally together, sharing warmth and closeness, a world away from the endless nights of longing. Though the years had etched lines on her mother’s face, she radiated a vitality that surpassed her younger self.
“Mom, I missed you so much,” Hazel whispered.
Hazel rested her head on her mother’s shoulder, her composure crumbling, revealing the vulnerable child who had waited so long for this embrace. Gianna held her close, her voice thick with regret.
“I shouldn’t have left you alone,” she whispered, guilt heavy in her words. “I thought… someone would take care of you. But I never imagined…” Her voice trailed off, unspoken words hanging between them. She hadn’t anticipated the world’s frequent disregard for entrusted responsibilities.
Hazel pulled away slightly, wiping a tear, and gently reassured her mother, “Mom, I don’t blame you. You taught me not to wait for love, but to find it within myself.” Even during the hardest years, she hadn’t held her mother accountable. She understood the difficulty of breaking free from the past, knowing that anyone moving forward couldn’t afford to linger there. Had she been in her mother’s shoes, she wouldn’t have wanted to return to that suffocating place either. Twenty years ago, Gianna had made a difficult decision, just as Hazel had now.
Her mother’s gaze nodded quiet approval. After a moment, she spoke hesitantly but surely, “Hazel, Ambrose couldn’t find you, so he called me.”
At the sound of his name, a sharp, persistent ache pierced Hazel’s chest. Her mother reached for her hand, her touch warm and gentle. “Mom will always support you, no matter what you choose.”
Hazel took a breath, steadying herself, before pulling out her phone, bracing for what came next. The screen displayed countless messages and missed calls from Ambrose. Hesitating only a moment, the weight of the past momentarily present, she decisively snapped her SIM card in half and tossed it in the trash—the same determination she’d shown discarding her high heels.
“The past is over,” she whispered, a quiet finality settling over her.
Her mother, her smile laced with joy and tears, patted Hazel’s shoulder gently. “Well said, darling. It’s all in the past. Let’s not dwell on unhappy things. Come, let’s go home.” With those words, Gianna enveloped her in the warmth and love she’d missed for so long.
When she’d learned Hazel was coming, Gianna had thrown herself into preparations, ensuring everything was perfect: a soft, supportive mattress, cozy bedding. Every inch of the wardrobe overflowed with seasonal clothes.
Even watching Hazel effortlessly cook breakfast, her heart clenched, and she gasped, “How can you do this? Where’s Aunt Olivia?”
Hazel flipped the eggs with practiced ease. “Mom, don’t worry about Aunt Olivia. I’ve got this. Over the years, I’ve learned to handle things on my own. You’ll taste my cooking soon enough.”
Ambrose disliked having others around, so they’d never hired help. Besides work, Hazel had managed all the cooking and chores herself. She’d always believed in doing everything for the person she loved.
Her mother’s eyes welled up with emotion at the sight of Hazel’s quiet strength.