CHAPTER 67

　　I turned at the sound of my name, and standing in the doorframe, purple eyes wide with disbelief, was a woman. She looked to be in her forties, perhaps older. She had dark black hair with a few grey streaks. She walked straight, despite her age, and her clothes were shredded slightly. Tears welled up in her eyes as she neared me.

　　"I-Is it really you?" She whispered.

　　I felt a clog in my throat. "I... Yeah...it is me..." I managed.

　　She stared at me for a moment, then, as the tears spilled freely from her eyes, she held me in her arms, squeezing tight, as if I were to slip from her grasp should she let go.

　　The best I could, I returned her hug, emotions swelling through me. I didn't look a tad bit like my mother. It makes sense why I was adopted and all. But I could have cared less. She may not have been my immediate family, but she still took me in when I needed it.

　　"April! What's taking you so long to answer the—"