Lila, with tear-filled eyes, saw her mother crying too, her heart aching.
"Mommy, please don't cry. I won't go out alone again, okay?" Lila sobbed, reaching up with her small hand to wipe Orelia's tears.
Orelia chuckled at Lila's adorable gesture, hugged her, and said in a muffled voice, "Promise me you won't do this again."
She picked Lila up and walked to the side. "Tell me, did anything fun happen?"
"I had some strawberry milk, and also..." Lila's voice was hoarse. "I heard someone say I was going to die. I wanted to know what 'die' meant. But I met a very handsome guy, and he told me."
Instantly, Orelia's whole body stiffened, her blood seeming to freeze.
Inwardly, Orelia cursed. *What was that man thinking? Why would he tell a child about death?*
"Just now, that sir told me, '
