Free Sample
Preview from chapter one
Elsa sat on the worn wooden bench, her back straight, watching in the distance. Her silver hair, tied back in a neat bun, barely moved with the gentle breeze. She had always been a strong woman, her age only visible in the lines etched into her face, a roadmap of a life well lived. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a soft glow over the swings and the monkey bars, painting the leaves a warm gold.
Cindy's footsteps were light on the gravel path as she approached. The 19-year-old blonde had grown into a beautiful young woman, her eyes a piercing blue that Elsa had often seen mirrored in her mother's gaze. She had filled out in all the right places, a stark contrast to the lanky child she had been. Elsa felt a twinge of nostalgia as she recognized the familiar skip in Cindy's stride. It had been years since she had seen her, and she hadn't been expecting the girl to remember her.
"Elsa?" Cindy called out tentatively, as if testing the waters of a distant memory.
Elsa's eyes snapped up, a smile forming on her lips before she had even fully registered who it was. She had been lost in her thoughts, the weight of the years pressing down on her shoulders like a heavy blanket. "Cindy," she exclaimed, her voice a mix of surprise and joy. "Look at you, all grown up!"
Cindy's cheeks flushed pink as she shuffled closer to the bench. She had heard whispers of Elsa's hardships from her mother over the years, the pain of her husband's departure and the ache of her son's infrequent visits. The sadness that clung to Elsa like a shadow was palpable, and it tugged at Cindy's heartstrings. She took a seat beside her, the warmth of the setting sun a gentle embrace against her skin. "Hi, Elsa," she said softly. "It's been a long time."
Elsa turned to look at her, her eyes bright with unshed tears. "Yes, it has, sweetheart," she replied, her voice cracking slightly. She took a deep breath, the scent of blooming flowers filling her lungs, and composed herself. "How are you, Cindy? You've become quite the lady."
Cindy shrugged, her eyes scanning the horizon. "I've been okay," she said, her voice lacking its usual cheer. "But, Elsa, you seem sad. What's been going on?"
Elsa sighed, her shoulders drooping. "Oh, Cindy, it's just the same old story," she began, her words thick with a sadness that hadn't left her for years. "My son, he's busy with his own life, his own family. He never finds the time to visit me anymore." She paused, the silence between them growing heavier than the approaching night. "I know he loves me, but it's just so lonely here without him."