FACING THE WOODS AGAIN

Mrs Payne stopped, only after she reached home. As soon as Ruth opened the lock on the door, Mrs Payne rushed inside only to collapse on the bed.

Tears streamed down her eyes. Her fragile heart pained not only because of the insults by Theodora and Eloise but also because of Ruth's misfortune.

What wrong did that innocent woman do? Why it has to be her going through different ordeals every day?

Ruth fell at Mrs Payne's feet and started crying. The fact that Mrs Payne had to go through such humiliation broke Ruth's heart more than what Theodora said to her.

Ruth felt disgusted that the woman who could not respect others and was so wrong; was her mother. She was having a hard time believing she grew up in that woman's womb.

How Ruth wished that if that womb was of her mother Bertha or Mrs Payne! She would have felt proud of herself then. But, now she could not.