Meanwhile, Carmela was watching from the sidelines with mixed emotions.
Part of her was genuinely happy for Joy. But another part of her felt a pang of jealousy.
Carmela loved children. She had always wanted to be around them, to protect them, to nurture them.
But children were terrified of her. With her hood always pulled up to block the sun, her gloomy appearance, and her cold expression, she looked like something out of a nightmare.
Whenever she got too close to children, they would cry and run away.
So she had learned to keep her distance. She would watch from afar, smile quietly to herself, and never approach.
She took a step back, trying to blend into the shadows so she wouldn't disturb the adorable scene.
But then a soft voice came from her side.
"Excuse me...could you possibly be...Carmela?"
Carmela froze. It was Olga.
She had somehow glided over without a sound, and now stood before her, looking up with curious, kind eyes.
