Charmaine's POV
As soon as Anna walks in, I can feel a weight lifting off my shoulders. We hug each other tightly, and I can feel the tension in my body begin to ease. Anna pulls back and looks at me with concern etched on her face.
"Hey, girl, what's going on?" she asks, her voice soft and gentle.
I take a deep breath and let it all out. I tell Anna everything - about Marcus showing up, about him wanting to be a part of Lily's life, about how I'm feeling trapped and unsure of what to do. Anna listens attentively, her eyes never leaving mine.
As I talk, I can feel the emotions building up inside me. I'm trying to hold it together, but it's getting harder and harder. Anna reaches out and takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Oh, Charmaine," she says, her voice full of compassion.
