"I should have said no…" she whispered to herself, stopping before the gate.
It had always been difficult for Grace to refuse Mary's requests — no matter how much she wanted to. She looked up at the sky, blankly, the pale clouds hanging heavy after the morning's endless rain. With a small sigh, she lowered her head and started walking toward her car.
"Grace!"
A familiar, cheerful voice called from behind — one that carried both warmth and distance.
Grace turned. Mary was running toward her, her face lit with joy. She nearly slipped midway, the grass was still slick from the rain. But she caught her balance and rushed on, throwing her arms around Grace the moment she reached her.
"I knew you'd come," Mary said breathlessly, tears brimming in her eyes.
It had been decades — and yet, in that embrace, time seemed to collapse.
Grace stood still in Mary's arms, unsure whether to hold her back or gently pull away. The warmth of the embrace felt both comforting and heavy — like a memory she wasn't ready to revisit.
When Mary finally loosened her hold, Grace managed a faint smile. "It's been… a long time," she said softly.