Brooklyn was caught completely off guard when Florence suddenly appeared, claiming she had come to change her world.
Brooklyn instinctively took a step back.
"Change my world?"
She already had one broken enough, and somehow growing even more shattered with each passing day.
"No... there's no need," she replied quietly.
Her head lowered, and she turned away, unwilling to entertain another impossible promise.
A heavy silence settled between them.
Then Florence spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
"...You can meet your parents again."
Brooklyn froze.
Brooklyn's eyes widened in disbelief. The sorrow that had weighed upon her face vanished in an instant, replaced by desperate hope.
"What...?"
She lunged forward, gripping Florence's shoulders with trembling hands.
"How?" she cried, her voice breaking. "How can I meet them again?
Her hands trembled uncontrollably, her eyes searching Florence's face as though terrified the answer might disappear before it was spoken.
Despite the grief and the complicated relationship she had shared with her parents, they were still her mother and father. It was only natural that she missed them with every corner of her heart. Just as parents often find it within themselves to forgive even the most unforgivable mistakes their children make, children, too, continue to love their parents
despite the misunderstandings, the scoldings, the financial hardships, and the quiet sacrifices that often go unnoticed. Even the simplest joy could leave them feeling guilty, wondering if they were the only ones smiling while their parents silently carried the weight of the world. Yet, through it all, love never truly faded. It remained steadfast, silent, and unconditional.