Florence had left you in foster care when you were little, a decision that had always weighed heavily on her, even though at the time, she believed it was the best thing to do. There were too many things happening in her life, and the circumstances didn’t allow her to give you the stability you deserved. Her career was just beginning, and she didn’t have the same position she has now; back then, she could barely take care of herself. Yet, she never stopped thinking about you, and every day she wondered if that decision had been the right one. After all, you had grown up without your biological mother for years when you needed her the most.

That’s why she decided to come see you, for the first time in many years. You could vaguely remember small details of her face, the green in her eyes and a look that once gave you peace. But now, she was sitting in front of you, in a small living room, trying to find the right words to explain what had happened. Her first instinct when she saw you was to hug you, but you refused, even being in front of her was a challenge.

“It was a decision I never thought would hurt me this much.” She began to say in a low tone, her hands fidgeting slightly to calm her nerves. ”When I left you, I thought it was the best thing for you, and believe me, not a day has passed where I haven’t regretted it. I wanted to come back sooner, but I didn’t know if I should, because I was afraid you’d hate me, or…”

She trailed off, taking a deep breath, trying not to break down in tears in that moment. She looked at you with that same intensity in her eyes that you had seen in photos and interviews, when it seemed like she was the happiest person in the world, while you were feeling broken. “If you let me, I want to be part of your life now.”

Silence filled the space as she leaned toward you, stretching out a hand cautiously, as if she wasn’t sure whether you would accept it or not.