Tina was leading Aurora by the hand, a strange feeling since the last time she held Aurora’s hand, she was just a little girl, and now she was almost as tall as herself. Throughout their walk, she barely spoke, only responding when Aurora asked her something, until they reached the hotel.
“Alright, I’m in my room now. You can leave,” Tina began, urging her out.
“Ma’am, do you dislike me?”
Aurora asked, blinking her large eyes. Even if the woman in front of her wasn’t her mother, she seemed to have a cold exterior but a warm heart.
From beginning to end, she had only gently held her hand, careful as if afraid to touch her wounds. People are wonderfully complex. The lady seemed as cold as ice, but inside, she was incredibly soft.
“Not at all, I’m just tired today and want to rest early,” Tina replied expressionlessly.
“Ma’am, I didn’t mean to bother you, I just want to look around,” Aurora pleaded.
“I’ll take a quick look and then leave.”
Though Tina didn’t see what was so interesting about a hotel room, the girl was insistent and wouldn’t leave, so she let her in. She stayed in a presidential suite, extremely luxurious and spacious, with the balcony door open and the curtains fluttering in the wind, giving the entire room a romantic atmosphere.
“It’s just a fancier room than others, nothing special,” Aurora felt, wondering if it felt warmer because Tina was staying there.
“Look around then, I’m going to take a shower,” Tina decided to ignore her, expecting Aurora to leave out of boredom eventually.
“Ma’am, should we ask Miss Montgomery to leave?”
whispered Erica.
“No need, go rest. She’ll leave when she gets bored,” Tina instructed.
“Yes, ma’am,” Erica replied, and moved into the adjacent room with the bodyguard.
After her shower, Tina scanned the room and didn’t see Aurora-she must have left, she thought. Yet, she felt an unexplained sense of loss. Turning around, she saw Aurora asleep on the couch, a wry, helpless smile forming on her lips. How could this girl feel so secure as to fall asleep in a stranger’s room?
A shallow smile lingered on Aurora’s lips, perhaps dreaming something pleasant. Tina noticed her hand wrapped in a bandage, a faint stain of blood marking the fabric. Instead of resting, Tina fetched the first aid kit, carefully unwrapped Aurora’s bandage, and upon seeing the long wound in her palm, her eyes moistened.
The wound was on Aurora, but the pain was in her heart-such a long scar must hurt. She gently re-applied the ointment to the wound. Aurora frowned in her sleep but did not wake.
Seeing her sleep so soundly, Tina could not bear to wake her up. She fetched a blanket from the bed and, kneeling beside her, removed her high heels.
Aurora, like when she was little, often fell asleep in front of the TV, and Tina would then remove her shoes and cover her with a small blanket.
It had been so long since then, and the little girl had grown up. Tina stroked her cheek. Involuntarily, Aurora grasped her hand and called out, “Mom.”
This startled Tina, but she realized Aurora hadn’t woken up; she just hadn’t let go of her hand.
Tina’s tears fell silently, filled with endless apologies and self-reproach.
She gently pried open Aurora’s hand, turned off the living room light, and returned to the bedroom.
As she heard the footsteps fade, Aurora, who should have been asleep, quietly opened her eyes, touching the still warm tears on her face, her eyes flickering with deep thought.
“You are clearly my mother, why won’t you admit it?”
Carefully, she lifted the blanket, walked barefoot off the couch, and noticed the bedroom door was ajar. Aurora saw the figure sitting on the bed, covering their face, crying silently.
Perhaps she had her reasons.
She didn’t approach to ask anything, just returned to the couch, at least now certain of one thing-this person was undoubtedly her mother.
Why she wouldn’t admit it was still unknown, but as long as her mother was alive, it was wonderful news.
Excited, it took her a long time to fall asleep. The next day, just after six, she received a call from Susan, “Aurora, you’re my bridesmaid today, come over early to try on the dress and do your makeup.”
“Sure, I’ll come over now.”
Aurora didn’t mind at all; after so many years, why cling to it?
Susan hadn’t expected her to actually come. It was too late to take back the invitation.
“Okay, I’ll wait for you.”
She hung up somewhat displeased, thinking it might be time to really give Aurora a hard time.
Aurora threw back the covers and spotted Tina, in pajamas, at the doorway, “Ma’am, I’m sorry, I was so tired last night, I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.”
Aurora would never admit she had been pretending to sleep.
“It’s okay, are you leaving?”
Tina was still distant, and if not for her tears the previous night, Aurora might have been fooled by her aloofness.
“Yes, sorry to bother you.”
“You’re leaving dressed like that?”
Tina noticed her slightly wrinkled evening gown. It would be odd to go out like that.
“Uh… do you have any spare clothes?”
Tina tossed her a set of clothes, “We’re about the same size, you can wear mine first.”
“Ma’am, you’re so kind. May I use your bathroom?”
“Go ahead, your hand is injured, remember not to wet it.”
No matter how much she wanted to hide it, maternal love was undeniable.
“Ma’am, it would be so nice if you really were my mom.”
Aurora smiled, holding the clothes, while Tina watched her back in silence.
After showering, Aurora emerged in Tina’s black dress, which fit perfectly.
“Ma’am, does it look good?”
Aurora asked, twirling as she might have done as a child in a new dress.
Tina remembered her childhood favorite was pink; she used to say princesses wore pink, and only wicked queens wore black.
The childish voice still echoed in her ears, and now the girl had grown up, graceful and sparkling with a ring on her finger.
“It looks good,” she sincerely said.
Aurora smiled slightly, “I think so too.”
Just as she thought this, the doorbell rang, “Ma’am, it must be Julian to pick me up. I’ll go now, thank you for having me last night.”
“Child.”
“What is it, ma’am?”
“Does he… treat you well?”
That was the most crucial concern for any mother.
“He treats me very well,” Aurora replied sweetly.
“That’s good.”