In his memory, she was such a gentle and mild girl, someone who would never make such a teasing joke. He looked at the woman on the ID card, whose eyes were tranquil and whose name was registered as Anna Quinn. The last flicker of hope in his heart was extinguished.
'Maybe she really isn't her. Maybe I'm just getting my hopes up.'
While the two of them were locked in a silent confrontation, Joy, in her arms, blinked her bright, dark eyes and glanced nervously between them. Then, the delicate little girl snuggled deeper into her embrace and said plaintively,
"Mommy, Joy doesn't want to be here. Joy wants to go home..."
She looked at Joy, both shocked and delighted, as tears welled up in her eyes.
"Joy, you... you..."
Because in all her life, Joy had never spoken such a long sentence. Most of the time, she was silent, occasionally saying a simple word or two like "hungry" or "potty." She had no idea her daughter could even say something so long!
