"Mummy, can I play in da snow?" Tina asked as she looked out to a sky full of dazzling, milky white snow.
"Not in those clothes!" Her mother exclaimed, "come with me, let's get you something a bit warmer huh?" Tina nodded and clutched her mothers hand.
"Mummy?" She asked when they got to her room.
"Yes dear." She answered. As she picked out a nice pink coat.
"Why does daddy have to go on the business twip? Why can't he stay home and play with us?" Her mother froze, why did she have to bring up that topic? She wanted so badly to just scream at her. But she wouldn't know what she did wrong. She was just curious, and she had no idea what she was digging into.
"Daddy's boss is really mean and grumpy and he says that if daddy doesn't go, he can't have a job anymore. Arms up." Tina lifted up her arms and her mother pulled on a nice warm jumper. When she had her beanie, mittens, boots and coat she ran out and made snow angles on the lawn.

As her mother watched her do this she saw a photo on the bench. A photo of all three of them, as one big, happy family. She let a tear fall onto the glass cover. Why did this happen, what was it that made her cause so much madness.
The next few day went on like this. Tina very rarely spoke of her father, but when she did it caused so much grief in her mother that some nights she would cry herself to sleep. If only Tina knew, if only she could understand how much depression these last few days have cost her mother.

One day the two were hanging snowflakes in the living room.
"I can't wait for Christmas!" Tina suddenly stated.
"Oh yeah? What are you looking forward to the most?" Her mother asked. But what Tina said next made her wish she hadn't.
"Daddy!" Her mother bit her lip and looked into Tina's bright green eyes. She felt tears begin to erupt. She turned away, determined not to let Tina see her pain.
"I hope he brings presents!" Tina exclaimed again. Her mother felt her heart strings snap and her depression growing. She tried to stay positive but the seed that she planted in her heart grew at every word her daughter spoke of her father, splitting it apart. She wished this strain on her heart would just end.
"Do you miss daddy?" Tina asked interrupting her mothers thoughts. All the desperation that she was trying to hide suddenly burst out and she screamed,
"Just SHUT UP!!!" She shouted. Tina's bottom lip trembled and tears began to form in her eyes. She dropped the paper snow flake she was holding and stared at her mother in fear before stating,
"Shut up is a nasty word." She managed to push through her quaking lips.
"I DON'T CARE!!! Go to your room." Tears erupted from the four year olds big green eyes. She seemed terrified of her mother, she had no idea what she did wrong. Her mum suddenly realised her mistake and reached out to comfort her daughter, but she jumped back in fright.
"Are you g..g..gonna smack me?" She asked before bursting into tears.
"No honey.." her mother started to talk but Tina run up the stairs sobbing. She heard a door slam and then every thing went silent.

Her mother sat by the window and stared out at the graceful snowflakes falling through the sky and landing gently on the snow lined pavement. What had she done? She broke Tina's heart, the exact thing she didn't want to do. Would she have tell her the truth? It was the only way that Tina was going to forgive her. What else could she say? She had to tell the truth. Will she be ready for it? No, no more thinking, every second she wastes will make Tina hate her more. She got up and walked up the stairs.