harsh words cease from her lips. guilt twines around aching heart, threatening grip that steals the air from her lungs. those tears dripping from the child's eyes being far from resolution intended. heavy breath flees dry lips. head shakes waving golden curls around her crown.Β soft shush rolls off of her tongue. open arms offering comfort to sobbing child. it was her fault. her own troubled life extending its grip to the weight of her words. βit's all right, now. I didn't mean to make you cry.β - dainty digits reach for flushed cheeks. trails of tears vanishing beneath motherly touch. βi do believe you. but since you claim having no part on that poor child's black eye, would care telling me what happened exactly?β