KATHERINE

I stood frozen for a moment, unsure of how to respond. A storm of conflicting emotions crashed inside my chest.

The overwhelming joy of finally meeting her, the nervousness of getting close, of how she would treat me, of whether I could win back her love after more than ten years… and now…

Now, all that remained was the bitterness of seeing my daughter treat me as an enemy, a stranger.

"I am your mother, Lavinia, and I only want what’s best for you…"

"I don’t have a mother! You have n