~ELENA

"Mummy, why are you crying?" my daughter asked as she walked towards me, and her cute face was furrowed into a confused frown.

Startled by her presence, I turned away from her and wiped the tears of my face, sniffing quietly.

I hadn't hear her walk in. If I had, I wouldn't have let her see me in tears. My daughter was not supposed to see me in any of my weak moments.

Slightly composed, I turned back to face her. "Mummy is not crying, honey," I said with a small smile as I reached out ...