APOLOGY

As Angela finished speaking, the room fell silent. Cherry and David looked at each other, then back at their mother. Liam, who had been watching the exchange, looked confused but said nothing.

After a few moments of silence, Cherry spoke up. "We'll need some time to think about everything," she said. "Can we talk about this later?"

Angela nodded, tears still streaming down her face. "Of course, sweetie," she said. "I'll give you all the time you need. I just want to be here for you, to support you and help you through this difficult time."

David nodded, his expression softening slightly. "We'll talk about it later, Mom," he said. "But for now, can you just give us some space?"

Angela nodded again, then stood up and quietly left the room. As the door closed behind her, Cherry let out a deep sigh and leaned back against the pillows.

Liam looked at her with concern. "How are you feeling?" he asked.

Cherry shook her head. "I don't know," she said. "I'm still trying to process everything. But I think we need to talk to Mom again, to get some more answers."

David nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we need to know more about what happened, about why she left us."

Liam put his arm around Cherry. "We'll get through this together," he said. "We'll figure out what happened and why, and we'll move forward from there."

Ma'am Rossy stood there for a moment, lost in thought. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. Angela, the woman who had abandoned her children all those years ago, was thanking her for taking care of them?

Ma'am Rossy's eyes narrowed as she thought back to all the years she had spent caring for Cherry and David. She had been angry with Angela for so long, but now she saw the pain and regret in her eyes.

Suddenly, Ma'am Rossy felt a pang of guilt. Had she been too hard on Angela? Had she judged her too harshly?

Ma'am Rossy shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She didn't know what to think or feel anymore. All she knew was that she needed to talk to Angela again, to ask her more questions and try to understand what had really happened all those years ago.

With a newfound sense of determination, Ma'am Rossy turned and walked out of the room, determined to get to the bottom of the mystery that had haunted her family for so long.

Ma'am Rossy walked out of the hospital room and made her way to the waiting area, where she knew Angela would be. She found Angela sitting alone, staring out the window.

Ma'am Rossy sat down beside her, clearing her throat to get Angela's attention. Angela turned to her, a mixture of sadness and hope in her eyes.

"Ma'am Rossy, I..." Angela started to say, but Ma'am Rossy cut her off.

"Angela, I need to ask you some questions," Ma'am Rossy said, her voice firm but gentle. "I need to understand what happened all those years ago. Why did you leave your children?"

Angela took a deep breath, and Ma'am Rossy could see the pain and regret in her eyes. "I was in a difficult situation, Ma'am Rossy," Angela started to explain. "I was being blackmailed, and I didn't know what to do. I thought I was protecting my children by leaving them, but I realize now that I was wrong."

Ma'am Rossy listened intently, her expression softening as she heard Angela's story. She could see the sincerity in Angela's eyes, and she began to understand the complexity of the situation.

As Angela finished her story, Ma'am Rossy nodded thoughtfully. "I see," she said. "I had no idea it was that complicated. But why did you stay away for so long? Why didn't you come back for your children?"

Angela's eyes dropped, and Ma'am Rossy could see the shame and regret in her eyes. "I was ashamed, Ma'am Rossy," Angela whispered. "I was ashamed of what I had done, and I didn't know how to face my children. But I realize now that I was wrong to stay away. I should have come back and fought for my children."