The walk back to your cottage is agonizingly slow, the feeling of dread dragging you down. The sun is almost set and you know you don't have much time so you walk quickly down the dirt path , the small cottage coming in sight. You push the door open and immediately your eyes land on your mother who sits upright on her favorite chair, her hair cascading down her back as she sips from a cup. She notices your presence and looks up with a a smile before placing her cup down next to her and opening her arms out for you.

"Mother.." Your voice is low and almost like a whisper as you accept her hug and sit down beside her, tears unknowingly forming at the corners of your eyes. Your mother notices and brushes a piece of hair behind your ear, worry etched onto her face.

"What's wrong? Mr. Rick talked you down again?" She asks and holds you close to her, her presence warm and comfortable and you don't know how you're going to be able to leave her. Your lips are pursed and you struggle to keep your tears at bay but with the way she looks at you, a dam breaks and your tears fall.

"A man, the one from yesterday, he bought me, mother," You say quietly,"Mother I don't want to leave you." Now tears are fully falling down your face and you try to wipe them away but your mother grabs your hands and squeezes them , a smile on her face. Why is she smiling ? She wants me to leave? Confusion settles on you and you open your mouth to question her but she shushes you, shaking her head as her smiles grows even more.

"You can finally get away from here, Y/n," She says warmly and squeezes your hands even tighter but you're still confused,"Anywhere is better than here." You freeze with widened eyes as you stare at her, she can't be serious , can she ?

"Mother...who will take care of you?" You watch as she shakes her head once again and chuckles.

"I can manage, if it means you having a better life than this, then I will be fine." Your mother was always supportive and always knew what to say, always knew how to comfort you. Her smile always kind , inviting and warm , her arms always open for you.

"I don't want to go."

"You know, when I met your father I did not want to leave my family behind either," Your mother says and tilts her head to the side,"But I did and I'm glad I did, because now I have you."

"Are you saying I'm going to marry him and have a child?" You gape at your mother and she throws her head back with a laugh, clapping her hand on your back. You can't help but smile at her, feeling just a bit better.

"No, I'm saying that this could be a new start," She replies softly and grabs your hand. You can hear the birds chirping outside, the sun slowly setting and you don't know when San will come to your door and take you away. But then your brought back to the idea you had on your way home and perk up, though you don't know the possibilities.

"Mother, what if I could bring you along with me?" You question and watch her face carefully, disappointed when you see a frown curl on her lips.

"He bought you, not me," Your mother replies,"This chance is for you not-"

A sharp knock at the door interrupts her, your heart stopping. The sun went down. You don't want to answer the door , you don't want to get up but who knows what will happen if you don't. He could easily shoot down the door. You glance back at your mother but she just smiles though you can see tears well up in her eyes.

"Go." She says and you stand, stumbling the door and open it to see San. His face is emotionless and his outfit changed , now decked in all black with a red bandana hanging from his pocket. He perks an eyebrow up and you know it's a signal for you to get going.

"Did you even pack?" He speaks, his voice tinged in slight annoyance and something else that makes you wince, your cheeks flaring. You hadn't even realized that you didn't pack, but you didn't have much of anything to pack anyways.

"I..I don't have anything....," Your voice trails off as you cast your eyes to the ground. You've never felt so small and embarrassed in your life. San looked like he had enough money to manage himself well while you stood there with nothing in your possession , standing in a small run down cottage.

"I understand. I hope you said your goodbyes, we need to leave," San replies in a rushed voice, grabbing your shoulder softly and moves aside, pushing you softly, eyes glancing behind you towards your mother. She still sits , tears now falling down her face. You don't dare look back knowing that if you did more tears would come and you'd run back inside to her. So instead you walk out and close your eyes, your head hanging low.

You don't hear San exchanging words with your mother before the door shuts. He pats your shoulder and you flinch but you nod and follow after him, not before glancing back one last time at the cottage.

"I'm sorry." You widen your eyes and quickly turn to San but he isn't looking at you , his eyes ahead as he continues to walk in a fast pace. But you don't bother to respond and just follow him towards your new life, and away from your old one.

this was boring anyways