Seraphina’s POV
"Mama!"
The world tilted sideways.
One second I was standing there, frozen in place, processing the impossible sight of this tiny girl running toward . The next, she crashed into my legs with enough force to make stumble backward.
Small arms wrapped around my knees like iron bands. A face pressed against my thighs. "I—" My voice ca out strangled. Wrong. "I think you’ve got the wrong person, sweetheart."
But she didn’t let go. Just held on tighter, her small body trembling with what might have been excitent or relief or sothing I couldn’t na.
"Sera?" Caleb’s voice cut through my shock. "Do you know this kid?"
"No." The word ca out too fast. "No, I don’t know her."
My heart was hamring so hard I could feel it in my throat. In my fingertips. In every cell of my body screaming that sothing was very, very wrong with this situation.
All I could do was stare down at the top of this little girl’s head—dark hair in slightly ssy pigtails, one ribbon starting to co loose.
*Just like I used to do Lily’s hair. Always one ribbon looser than the other because she’d fidget.*
"Hey," I said softly, my voice shaking despite my best efforts. "Hey, sweetie. I think there’s been a mistake."
The little girl pulled back just enough to look up at , and—
Oh.
Her eyes.
They were like looking into the ocean at dawn—blue and green swirled together in a way that didn’t quite match mine but felt achingly familiar. Lighter than my erald green, but with that sa depth. That sa intensity.
"You have pretty eyes," she said seriously, studying my face with the kind of concentration only small children possessed. "Like the forest. That’s what Daddy says. ’Mama has forest eyes.’"
My throat closed up completely. "I... that’s very sweet, but—"
"And black hair!" She reached out with one small hand, fingers barely brushing my hair where it fell over my shoulder. "Daddy says Mama has hair like nightti. Soft and dark and pretty."
Each word was a knife between my ribs. Twisting. Cutting deeper.
"Sweetie, I’m not—" I had to stop and swallow hard. "I’m not your mama. You’ve made a mistake."
Her bottom lip pushed out in the most devastating pout I’d ever seen. "But you look just like her!"
"I’m sure I do." I managed sothing that might have been a smile. My face felt frozen. "Your mama sounds beautiful. But honey, are you lost? Can’t you find your mommy?"
The little girl’s expression shifted—sothing complicated passing across her small face. Sadness, maybe. Or confusion. Or sothing else I couldn’t quite read.
"I’ve never seen my mama," she said, so matter-of-fact it made my chest ache. "She’s not around."
My hands were shaking worse now. I clasped them together in my lap, trying to hold myself together.
"But Daddy tells about her all the ti!" The little girl’s face brightened again, that devastating pout transforming into an excited smile that showed her baby tooth. "He says she’s beautiful and kind and brave. He says she has black hair and green eyes and the most wonderful smile in the whole world."
"He says—" She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper like she was sharing a secret. "He says she’s the strongest person he’s ever known. Even stronger than him. And Daddy’s really, really strong!"
"I’m sure he is," I managed. My voice sounded like it was coming from underwater. "But honey, I’m not—"
"You have to be!" Her hands reached up, small fingers trying to touch my face. "You look exactly like how Daddy described! And you’re here! You found !"
I caught her hands gently, holding them between mine. They were so small. So warm. So achingly familiar in a way that made no sense because I’d never t this child before.
"Sweetheart, listen to ." I made my voice as gentle as I could. As calm. Even though inside I was screaming. "Sotis people look similar. Like... like copies. But I’m not your mama."
Her face crumpled, like I’d just told her the worst news in the world.
The tears spilled over. Down those chubby cheeks. Dripping off her chin.
"Oh, baby." The endearnt slipped out before I could stop it. "Oh, sweetheart, don’t cry. Please don’t cry."
I pulled her closer, my arms going around her small body without conscious thought. She buried her face in my shoulder, her whole body shaking with sobs.
"I just want a mama," she hiccupped against my neck. "Everyone else has a mama. Why can’t I have one too?"
"Sera." Caleb’s voice was tight with concern. "Maybe we should find her parents. Her dad must be looking for her."
I pulled back gently, keeping my hands on the little girl’s shoulders. "He’s right. Your daddy must be so worried about you. Do you know where he is?"
She wiped her nose with the back of her hand, sniffling. "We were getting cupcakes. Will you co et Daddy? He’ll be so happy! He’s been looking for Mama forever and ever!"
"Sweetie, I don’t think that’s a good idea." I gentled my voice, trying to make the rejection hurt less. "Your daddy needs to find you, but I... I have my own children. My own family."
"You have children?" Her eyes went wide. "How many?"
"Two." The word caught in my throat. "A boy and a girl."
"Like !" She bounced on her toes, excitent replacing sadness with that rcurial speed only children possessed. "Are they here? Can I et them?"
"No, they’re... they’re far away."
"Oh." Her face fell again. "That’s sad. Don’t you miss them?"
"So you can’t be my mom," she whispered. "Nobody wants . Not even you."
"That’s not—" I started, but she was already pulling away.
"Forget it!" She stomped her foot—that mismatched pink and purple shoe hitting the pavent with surprising force for soone so small. "I don’t need you anyway! I don’t need anybody!"
"Sweetie, wait—"
"NO!" Another stomp. "You’re an! You’re a an lady who doesn’t want to be mamas with little girls! I’m gonna find soone BETTER!"
And before I could stop her, before I could reach out and pull her back and tell her all the things I couldn’t say—
She turned and ran.
Those mismatched shoes slapping against the pavent. Those pigtails bouncing wildly. That backward dress flying behind her like small wings.
"Wait!" I scrambled to my feet, my legs weak beneath . "Co back! You can’t just run off alone!"
But she was fast. So fast. Already turning the corner, disappearing from view.
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