Mia
Once she was close, she threw herself into my arms, and I hugged her tight. “Hello, Aria. How was school today?” I asked, grinning in adoration.
“Good,” she said hyperactively. “I had so much fun today. We did heaps of cool stuff like painting and stuff. I’m gonna show you my painting when we get home. It’s the coolest painting ever!”
I couldn’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm. “That’s good,” I said. “I can’t wait to see it.”
“Now that’s something I don’t see every day,” the elderly receptionist said behind me.
I turned to her and asked, “What do you mean?”
She chuckled. “Aria is never like this when that Sophie woman comes to pick her up.”
“Really?” I asked, turning my eyes to Aria once again, feeling my heart ache for the little girl at the reminder of Sophie’s mistreatment.
