When the sliding door opened, Alicia froze.
Sitting inside was Evelyn. She appears calm, elegant, and smiling faintly, as if she'd been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Alicia blinked several times, her mind struggling to process the sight.
Her throat tightened as she shouted in a trembling voice, "Oh my... God! E–Eve. Is... that you?"
Alicia was holding Stella's hand tightly, too afraid she might lose her balance, too shocked by what she saw.
Evelyn stood up slowly, her eyes softening. "Hi, Alice. Yes, it's me..."
Hearing Evelyn's voice was enough to make Alicia cry. Her eyes were blurry and filled with tears as she stumbled forward.
Evelyn caught her in a tight embrace before she could fall.
"Eve… oh, sweetheart," Alicia whispered through her tears. "I thought I'd never see you again. I thought God had forgotten all my prayers to bring you back to me."
Evelyn smiled faintly against Alicia's shoulder.
"I missed you, too, Alice."
