Just after Maya dozed off, the little girl that Maya gave $100 to came back. She flashed a grin as she gazed up at her mother.
“Mama, this customer purchased flowers from me and then gave me $100 so that I could get something to eat.”
“Sophia, did you beg money from her?”
“No mother? I didn’t do anything; she just gave it to me after she purchased the flower from me and told me I needed to get something to eat. Mama advised me to instead earn the money I need rather than begging for it from other people. I will never disobey your orders, mother. She gave me the money. Ask her when she wakes up. ”
“It’s okay, princess. I trust you.” The young girl positioned the food on the bench, and then she and her mother began to eat together. After that, she informed her mother that she was going to sell a few more items and that after that, she would return. The woman was relieved to learn that they would not have to spend the night in the park because they would have a place to sleep today. Today was a good day for her financially as well. She couldn’t help but think that Maya might be their lucky charm for today. The woman grabbed Maya’s purse and positioned it so that it was close to her so that thieves wouldn’t be able to take it from her. Maya did not wake up for another three hours, at which point she became acutely aware that the day was drawing to a close and that she was still sitting on the woman’s lap. She was so mortified by the situation that all she could do was a murmur.
“Please forgive me. I didn’t intend to sleep for such a lengthy period of time.” Maya was only met by the woman’s smile; she did not make any other gestures or sounds. Maya observed that she was currently wrapped in a blanket. She unwrapped the blanket from around her body, coiled it up, and then handed it over to the woman.
“I knew you were expecting, so I made sure to look out for the health of the baby growing inside of you. This is the reason why I put this soiled blanket on top of you.”
“It’s okay, thank you very much,” Maya mumbled. She looked around for her bag, but the woman gave Maya her bag back.
“Here.” the woman said, and Maya smiled and thanked the woman. “Wanna talk about it?” The woman questioned Maya because she could sense that the young lady was experiencing some kind of difficulty. However, for some reason, Maya felt like she could trust the woman, and she felt a mother’s love for the first time in years. Due to the fact that she was unable to live with her mother and that she was only able to see her mother a few times, she was able to sense that the woman sitting next to her was concerned for her, just like her mother had been in the past. She couldn’t wrap her head around the sensation, yet it provided her with reassurance and solace all the same. Then she started sobbing in front of the woman again.
“My husband didn’t do anything to stop a woman from kissing him in front of me, and the woman did it right in front of me.
At the restaurant earlier today, his ex-fiancee sent a disdainful glance my way. I am just a nobody who he married, but I just can’t understand why he did not push the woman away when I was there because I am his wife. I am at a loss for words.” She believed that she had been holding her breath for a very long time, and when she finally let it out, she felt a sense of relief. She gave the other woman a glance, and then she and the other woman giggled uncontrollably.
“Do you feel better now?” Maya responded in the affirmative to the question posed by the other woman. Maya didn’t feel like an adult in the presence of this woman for the first time since her mother passed away; she was finally able to regress to her childlike state. The woman hugged her once more and then asked, “Look at it this way, child; did your husband kiss the woman back?” Maya gave a slight nod of her head, “So it wasn’t your husband that kissed the woman; rather, it was the woman who kissed your husband. Sometimes women do things in front of other women with the sole intention of driving them completely bonkers. Solely with the intention of getting in your face. Believe me when I say that the other lady may not have any significance to your husband, but she did that intentionally to get in your face. You should never make room in your mind for another lady, especially one who is unimportant. Your husband is entirely yours to keep. However, if the thought of punishing him for a few days makes you feel better, go ahead and do it. Now try to smile.” Maya adopted a childlike expression, wrapped her arms around the woman, and smiled broadly.