Trying best to keep her distance from this woman. The one who had left her with now regret. Yet it seemed as if she did regret it. Yet it still did not hurt less. Penelope was not sure if she was able to forgive Phoebe, her mother. Not right now. It would take time, and to earn Penelope’s trust. Something that took a long while for someone new to enter her life. Penelope took another step back now as Phoebe stepped closer to her. Penelope though was not able to dodge the hug now given to her my her estranged mother.
“I’m sorry.”
Penelope said almost as if she was ready to accpet this. Now though she was pushing Phoebe away from her. Stepping back from her Penelope wiped her eyes of any tears that she might have now shed. She was angry, unable to just let Phoebe in.
“I don’t think I can do this.”
Too much too soon, Phoebe thought, letting go the moment she
felt Penelope pushing back. She stepped backwards, attempting
to give her daughter some space. Daughter. Obviously she’s
used the word hundreds of times over the last twenty odd years,
raising her other girls. But somehow it felt different using it to
refer to Penelope. Though the girl was her daughter, Phoebe had
missed so much of her life that the word felt like a lie.
“No, don’t go,” she said quickly, a pleading tone edging her voice.
She instinctively reached out toward her again, but quickly pulled
her hand back, understanding that a comforting touch was not
what Penelope wanted or needed at the moment.
Phoebe glanced around them, pleased the cafe was not particularly
busy, and drew a deep breath. “I - I know I don’t deserve it, I know
you don’t owe me anything. But... well I owe you everything. You
deserved better from me and I just want the chance to give it to you.”
She searched Penelope’s eyes for any sign that she didn’t hate her.
“Please. Stay.”