A crescent moon hung in the sky, the long pier stretching out into the sea. Adrian Desmond stood at the very end, a long shadow trailing behind him, his whole body steeped in loneliness and sorrow.
Sally walked to a point ten meters away from Adrian, not daring to go closer. Claire Desmond saw her father's back and burst into loud wails, stretching out her little hands for Adrian to hold her.
"Claire, be good…" Sally tried to soothe her, but no matter how she coaxed, Claire wouldn't stop crying. These days Claire was especially insecure.
Claire's crying dragged Adrian's far‑flung thoughts back. He turned around, looking at his daughter who was sobbing like a little tear‑drenched doll, frowned slightly, and strode over.
"Claire, what's wrong?"
"She seems to have had a nightmare just now. She started crying as soon as she woke up," Sally explained.
