Thirty One

FREYA

It had not been easy to get to where we were now. Thank God for Jiel's quick work and the cab driver who had waited as he had said he would. I sat on the motel bed, and watched the kids absentmindedly as they played with each other, their warm laughters filling the room.

The look on Jiel's face as she hugged the kids hunted me, the way she had turned away to hide the tears that had been threatening to fall down her cheeks. The way she had quickly wiped at it, and turned to give me a obviously grieving smile.

I understood how she felt. She had groomed and watched the kids grow before her eyes, and they were so adorable. I could understand her pain as having to part with them. It was obvious from the way she had quickly turned back the moment we had boarded the cab, and hightailed it back to her house.

I could clearly imagine her standing in the empty room that the kids once occupied, missing their playful chaos and the sound of her laughter.

Without meaning to, my mind skidd