A mature-looking woman sat at a table, illuminated by the soft light of a magical lamp. Her pen glided across the paper, seemingly with a mind of its own, as if her hands were independent beings. She was absorbed in her writing, not even looking at the paper, as the words flowed effortlessly from her pen, forming beautiful sentences on their own accord.
Her brown eyes scanned the area outside the large gates of the Alchemy Association, searching eagerly for someone. As the last rays of the sun vanished in the sky, a hint of sadness flickered across her gaze. "When will she come?" she wondered aloud, her voice tinged with concern.
"It's getting late," she murmured to herself, her brow furrowing. "Is she staying with him again? But she said she would come today to walk home with me." Her thoughts were filled with uncertainty and doubt, as she anxiously awaited the arrival of someone special.
Her eyes reflected a mix of emotions - longing, disappointment, and perhaps even a tinge of jealousy. She couldn't help but wonder why the person she was waiting for was delayed, and whether they were choosing to spend time with someone else. Her gaze remained fixed on the gate, her mind racing with questions and her heart filled with a sense of longing.
"Miss Everly, are you working overtime again?" the guard inquired, noticing that Miss Everly was still at work despite their shift starting at the same time. It was not uncommon for her to put in extra hours.
Miss Everly looked up from her desk, her tired eyes meeting the guard's gaze. She had a diligent and hardworking reputation in the office, often staying late to complete her tasks. Her dedication to her work was evident in her slightly disheveled appearance, with papers scattered around her desk and a determined expression on her face.
"Yes, I have a few pending tasks that I need to finish," she replied with a faint smile. "I want to make sure everything is in order before I leave."
The guard nodded in understanding, acknowledging her diligent work ethic. "Take care of yourself, Miss Everly," he said with a note of concern in his voice. "Don't forget to go home and get some rest."
Miss Everly nodded appreciatively and assured him that she would take a break soon.
After the guard had left for the day, Miss Everly's gaze remained fixed on the gate, watching as people passed by, heading home with their loved ones. Thirty minutes had passed since the guard's departure, but she was still at her desk, lost in her thoughts.
As the last traces of sunlight faded from the sky, the east horizon turned into a canvas of twilight hues. The familiar glow of magic lamps began to illuminate the road, casting a warm and inviting light. Miss Everly's eyes followed the soft glow, but her heart felt heavy as she realized she was still alone, waiting for someone who had yet to arrive.
Her mind wandered, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness. She longed for companionship and the comfort of going home with someone special. She wondered why the person she was waiting for hadn't come yet, and her thoughts were filled with questions and uncertainties.
And her wait was not in vain, for soon a bright light approached. A beautiful face emerged from the darkness, adorned with a cheerful smile that instantly lit up Miss Everly's heart. The sadness that had weighed on her began to fade, replaced by a blossoming smile of her own.
Despite the happiness that was welling up inside her, Miss Everly maintained a stern expression on her face as she spoke. "Why are you so late?" she asked, her tone slightly curt.
The newcomer's smile faltered as she approached Miss Everly, who maintained her cold expression without any sign of softening. "Mom, you're as icy as ever," she said, her graceful strides reminiscent of her mother, her wide hips swaying in a similar manner and continued.
Miss Everly raised an eyebrow, unmoved by her daughter's playful remark. "Someone has to uphold discipline and punctuality around here," she replied curtly, her tone stern and unwavering.
Her daughter sighed, but there was still a glint of affection in her eyes as she brushed a stray strand of hair from her mother's face. "Well, I suppose that's true," she said with a hint of amusement. "But you could at least crack a smile once in a while."
Miss Everly remained unresponsive to her daughter's playful banter. She was used to being the disciplinarian, always focused on her work and responsibilities. However, her daughter's presence did soften her, even if she didn't show it.
"Have you got something else to do, or should we get going?" Her daughter asked, her voice tinged with impatience.
"Yeah, I have to organize some paper...." Miss Everly was about to reach for a pile of papers, but before she could, her daughter's beautiful, soft hand, slightly smaller than hers, grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the bench.
"What are you doing, Ivy?" Everly said, her tone cool as she tried to free her hand from her daughter's grasp.
"Mom, you're always working," her daughter said, a note of frustration in her voice. "Can't you take a break for once and just enjoy the moment?"
Miss Everly's stern expression softened for a moment as she looked at her daughter's determined face.
"I suppose I can organize the papers later," Miss Everly said with a sigh, allowing herself to be pulled along by her daughter. It was a rare moment of spontaneity, and she found herself slightly intrigued by what her daughter had in mind.
Her daughter's eyes sparkled with excitement as they walked together, hand in hand. Miss Everly couldn't help but notice the similarities between them, the same determined stride and confident demeanor. Despite their differences in personality, there was an undeniable bond between them.
As they walked, her daughter chatted animatedly about her plans for the evening, and Miss Everly listened attentively, allowing herself to be pulled out of her usual routine. For once, she let go of her stern facade and allowed herself to enjoy the moment, feeling a glimmer of warmth in her heart.
"How is Ryan these days?" Everly asked, her voice tinged with concern. "I haven't seen him in months. Does he still not want to meet me?"
Her daughter, Ivy, looked at her with a sympathetic gaze. "Mom, you know how father is. He's been busy with his own things, but I'm sure he doesn't have any ill intentions. Maybe you could reach out to him and plan a meeting?"
Everly sighed, her usual cold demeanor momentarily softening. "I've tried before, but he's always been distant. I don't want to force him if he doesn't want to meet me."
Ivy reached out and placed a comforting hand on Everly's shoulder. "I understand, Mom. It's not easy, but sometimes we have to make the first move. Maybe Father is waiting for you to reach out again. It's worth a try."
"Why would I reach out to him first?" Everly's voice remained cold, her frustration evident. "It was his mistake this time, and many times before. I've always had to apologize for his mistakes. I was going to apologize again this time, but no more. If he wants me back, he can come to me."
Ivy looked at her mother with a mix of concern and understanding. "Mom, I know it's not fair, but sometimes we have to take the first step towards reconciliation, even if it's not our fault. It's about mending the relationship, not assigning blame."
Everly sighed, her resolve softening just a bit. "I know you're right, Ivy. But it's not easy for me to always be the one to apologize, to always be the bigger person." Then Everly looked at her daughter with a tender gaze, her cold exterior melting momentarily as she caressed Ivy's cute face. "But don't you worry, Ivy," she said softly. "I will not let anything happen to you."
Feeling her mother's untimely and unusual display of affection, Ivy smiled brightly and said, "I know, Mom." She then looked around and realized they were still far from their destination. "Mom, let's get going. I really want to lie down now."
Everly looked at her daughter with concern and asked, "Why? What happened?"
"It's nothing, Mom. It's just my shoulder pain," Ivy replied, attempting to stretch her shoulder by flexing her neck to the sides.
Everly looked at her daughter in pain. She felt a pang of empathy. Her gaze fell on the reason for Ivy's distress - the pair of two large. Meat lumps on her chest, slightly smaller than her own.
Everly felt a pang of guilt as she reflected on her daughter's pain, realizing that Ivy may have inherited some of her own body image issues. She couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that she had unintentionally passed on her insecurities to her daughter.
As she stood there, lost in her thoughts, she suddenly remembered an unusual interaction she had with a little boy who mentioned a shop. Her gaze scanned the area until it fell upon an old-looking shop, and her eyes lit up with curiosity.
"Ivy, let's stop there. I need to buy something," Everly said eagerly as she pulled her daughter along with her.
Ivy, looking tired, let out a fake-sounding voice crack and said, "Mother, can you buy that thing tomorrow? I'm really tired today."
Everly didn't fall for her daughter's tired act and gently pulled her along with her. Ivy protested weakly, but it was futile.
