The Day I Kissed An Older Man

Lilin skipped out the ward hand-in-hand with Melinda.

Only Corinne and Emily remained in the ward, looking at each other shyly.

Emily was the first to break the silence. She smiled gently and said, "Moonie, do you still...remember me?"

Corinne stared at Emily silently.

Emily sighed with self-blame. "I'm sorry for leaving you all alone for so many years. I'm so sorry..."

As Emily's tears fell, Corinne's eyes reddened as well. She shifted her gaze to Emily's bandaged forearm and asked, "How did you get hurt? Is the wound serious?"

Emily was taken aback. She glanced at her own forearm and shook her head. "It's nothing serious."

Corinne looked into Emily's eyes. Her emotions were complex and bitter. She was not a child anymore, and it also seemed that it was no longer suitable for her to throw herself into her mother's arms carefreely.

me out to meet you two days ago? Were you avoiding me?" asked Corinne in

"No, no! Moonie, why would I want to avoid you? I just felt ashamed because I hadn't done what a mother

alone back then? Why didn't you come back for me? I...I've been waiting for

would be too risky. That was why I left you in Marvin's care for a while to keep you safe. After the danger had passed, I went back to find you. I swear I did! But Marvin told me you had died from an illness. He even

want me!' Corinne thought to herself. For so many years, she firmly believed that her mother never abandoned her, so she never

off as

from Emily, Corinne held her hand shyly. "Who

and

reaction. "It was the Riveras, wasn't it? They wanted

reddened as she emotionally croaked, "Moonie, they were only after me, not you. You don't