Chapter 105: "Can I come with you, Maya?"

Maya doesn’t let me touch her.

She holds her chin up in the air and walks past me like she doesn't see me. I apologize for the third time this morning.

“I’m sorry Maya. I’m being honest. I didn’t mean to leave you alone.”

“I wasn’t alone.” She’s really angry “Uncle Danis and Beta Fen were with me.”

I frown.

“In the room?”

I feel a wave of hypocrisy at the way I voice those words.

I almost sound angry and alarmed and it shouldn't be so. I should have been here with my daughter, in this space with her, and in the bed with her.

“Beta Fen made him and Uncle Danis sleep outside the door. They left it open so I could see they were there until I fell asleep…..” My heart twists in gratitude “Where were you mummy?” Maya’s tone softens so noticeably at this point that I can tell she’s hurt “You left me alone again.”

My body reacts so instantaneously that Maya is caught by surprise when I hug her.

It takes a good second, but she hugs me back and when she does the feeling of shame and