'Yes, yes! Go on! Chase it, catch it!' The high grown woman shouted after a little girl, not even 6 years old. The child ran and jumped after a red leaf, which flew away with the wind. It seemed as if it fled from her, when suddenly she caught it with her left hand. The little girl ran back towards the older woman, proudly showing her the dark red leaf she held with her tiny hands, laughing full hearted and happy about her newest archievement. The older one clapped her hands and smiled at the child happily. 'You did it! I am so proud on you my little girl!' Carefully she pulled the child closer to not destroy the beautiful leaf in her hands and hugged her tightly. Some tears rolled down her cheeks but she suppressed the the urge to sob, not wanting to worry the little girl. 'I wish you wasn't her child but mine…' She whispered too quiet for the little girl in her arms to understand.
'Mama, what is it?' The red haired asked, not able to free herself from the tight hug. 'Are you crying?' She now started to sound worried and pushed the woman away a little with her full strength, not even caring that she destroyed her leaf with it. But the woman, too strong and heavy, pulled the child back into the hug. She kept hold of the little body and pushed it against hers.
'It is nothing sweety.' She whispered into the childs ear. 'Your mama is just so proud to have you, you know? Such a beautiful and strong girl.' She now whiped off her tears and tried to not look that sad anymore when she stopped hugging the child. She grabbed the shoulders of the girl and looked her into the dark but tear-filled eyes. 'Please don't cry honey.' She whispered again as she stroke some of the long, curly hair behind the child's ears. 'Promise me something Evina. Promise that you will not do anything dangerous. Never ever, yes?' She calmly asked the little girl and held her pinky out towards her. The small one nodded and took the pinky with her own, not even sure what her mother meant with it.
'Pinky promise…' she whispered.