Broken Dreams
She stood in the hotel lobby, her heart beating in her chest. Any moment now... She stole a glance to Robert, a brief flare of hate in her eyes. She knew that this was best. She knew that this way...her children would not suffer for her. It did not stop her from hating what she had to do.
A kind looking couple moved through the front door. He was tall and broad shouldered, and she was petite and friendly looking. They spotted Robert and made a bee-line for him, their faces aglow. Rowena looked to Robert again and then sighed, steeling herself. Straightening and looking at the couple, forcing a smile on her face.
Pleasentries ensued, papers were signed. Through it all, Rowena felt sick to her stomach. She wanted to run, to scream, to push them away, make them forget they were here...she wanted to take her babies and run far away. Away from Tiris Li, away from Grass, away from everyone and everything that would hurt her and her family.
The papers were pushed towards her and she stopped, looking at them for a long moment. Robert leaned over towards her and rested an encouraging hand on her arm. She could almost read his thoughts, 'This is what your father would want, Ro...your father would be proud of you...be strong like him...' With shaky hands, she signed her children away.
Feeling the hot tears edging her vision she stood abruptly, shaking hands with the couple and turning to leave. She walked into the room where the case worker waited with the children, kissed each in turn before turning her back.
Her heart broke to hear Heidi screaming for her mother. 'Momma...Momma!'
It was over. She suffocated her sorrows with whiskey, remaining in the dark hotel room until the morning.
A kind looking couple moved through the front door. He was tall and broad shouldered, and she was petite and friendly looking. They spotted Robert and made a bee-line for him, their faces aglow. Rowena looked to Robert again and then sighed, steeling herself. Straightening and looking at the couple, forcing a smile on her face.
Pleasentries ensued, papers were signed. Through it all, Rowena felt sick to her stomach. She wanted to run, to scream, to push them away, make them forget they were here...she wanted to take her babies and run far away. Away from Tiris Li, away from Grass, away from everyone and everything that would hurt her and her family.
The papers were pushed towards her and she stopped, looking at them for a long moment. Robert leaned over towards her and rested an encouraging hand on her arm. She could almost read his thoughts, 'This is what your father would want, Ro...your father would be proud of you...be strong like him...' With shaky hands, she signed her children away.
Feeling the hot tears edging her vision she stood abruptly, shaking hands with the couple and turning to leave. She walked into the room where the case worker waited with the children, kissed each in turn before turning her back.
Her heart broke to hear Heidi screaming for her mother. 'Momma...Momma!'
It was over. She suffocated her sorrows with whiskey, remaining in the dark hotel room until the morning.