I told her that I was going to be home soon.

And I'm keeping my promise.

I took off my heels, and then broke into a sprint.

I ran and ran.

Barefoot.

I didn't have to worry about stepping on glass or anything.

The street cleaners do a freaking great job.

I wouldn't admit that, though.

Before I knew it, I was already by the pavement of my yard.

And then, I saw her.

Eight hours has been too long.

She was running towards me.

And then, she jumped.

I caught her in mid-air.

"Momma, you're home." She whispered in my hair.

She had my neck in a vice grip.

I didn't mind, though.

I was holding her just as tight, if not tighter.

"I'm sorry I was home late," I apologized.

She kissed my face before telling me that it was alright.

Who was the adult here?

I trudged up to my room, Mia still in my arms.

She relaxes me.

"How was your day today?" I asked her once I set her down on my bed.

She chattered away, nodding and commenting as I dressed into some more comfortable clothes.

I sat down next to her as I took off my earrings.

"But other than me and gramma makin' cookies, I just cowored in my coworin' book."

Coloring book.

More like sheets of paper sloppily drawn on in marker.

I still felt guilty about that.

I had just bought a new box of crayons and a coloring book for my daughter.

She'd been asking for a new one.

And who was I to deny her?

But then, Cat started talking.

She was bugging me to no end.

I was selfish.

I wanted her to shut up.

So, with an angry huff, I took out the crayons and coloring book which was intended for my daughter and gave it to Cat.

"Color the pretty tiger." I ordered.

"Okay!" She grinned.

I went home empty-handed.

"That's good. Hey, you know, I've been saving up money these past couple of weeks." I told her.

It wasn't really a lie.

I am saving up.

For these new combat boots I was eyeing.

And then I realized that I hadn't bought her anything since her last birthday.

Selfish.

It was her third birthday.

She didn't have a party. It was only her and me.

I preferred it that way.

And somehow, she preferred it that way as well.

We danced, sang, played games.

Basically we did everything her little heart desired.

And then it came to my gift.

"Mia, could you come over here?" I called her, and she toddled over to me.

"I have something to give you." I told her.

Her face brightened up in excitement.

I opened the box.

It revealed a gold and copper plated heart locket, with a key hanging next to it.

I had an inscription engraved on the back.

My solace, My strength.

I love you.

It had a picture of me and her.

It cost a fortune.

But it was a small price to pay, in comparison to the person who you cherished the most.

"Do you like it?" I asked her. She nodded as she carefully traced the intricate designs of the locket with her finger.

"Mine?" She asked, unsure.

I smiled at her as I took the necklace out of the box.

Before putting it on her, I opened the locket with the key and showed her the picture.

"Do you know who those are?" I asked her, pulling her to my lap.

I had my arms around her as I showed her the interior of the locket.

"That's me," She pointed at her picture.

"And that's you, mommy." She pointed at my picture.

I kissed her head before putting the locket on her.

"Thank you." She twisted on my lap and wrapped her arms around my neck.

"You're welcome."

"I love you, mommy." She whispered, more like mumbled on my chest.

I told her that more than a million times.

Only now did she say those words back to me.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

I was determined not to let them fall.

Not to let her hear my probably shaking voice.

I pulled her tighter.

"I love you too, baby."

"So I was thinking, you and I could both go to the mall? We could buy you new clothes, new coloring books, anything you want."

It didn't take a lot of effort to make her happy.

She was bouncing on my bed, clearly ecstatic.

"What do you think about that?" I asked her, pulling her to my lap.

"Do we still hafta pretend?"

I knew she'd ask that.

When I'd take her out, I'd ask her if she could play as my cousin.

We looked too much alike for me to say that I was merely babysitting her.

And I do not babysit for anyone.

So might as well say that we're related in the first place.

"You don't tell them that you're my baby. When they ask, only then you can tell them that I'm your momma, okay?"

"Okay." She grinned.

I saw so much of me in her.

Mom said that she looked exactly like me when I was growing up.

Only difference was, she had strawberry blonde hair.

Glad that it was the only thing she inherited from him.

Ding dong!

"Mom, door!" I yelled.

Mia covered her ears.

She was smiling, though.

She's used to the amount of decibels I normally use.

"I'm busy, you get it!"

I drew out a long, exhausted breath.

"Momma, can I piggy back?" Mia asked me, standing up on my bed.

Without a word, I turned around, and I felt her latch on my back, her arms around my neck and her tiny legs on each side of my waist.

I missed her too much to deny her of anything.

I started running down the stairs, making Mia giggle and laugh.

Happiness.

Until I opened the door.

All joy was thrown out of the window.

My cover was blown.

Exposed.

"Vega?"