Morningside Cuesta sandcastles

It then occured to her that every mom Dawn had ever known had left, whether or not by choice. Khoe, taken aback by the bold proclamation, sat dumbfounded and speechless as she thought of what to say next. Oh no, she began, I'm not going anywhere. She moved forward only a bit and used her nose to rub at Dawn's forehead and somehow convey an absent understanding. She wanted to defend herself and to tell Dawn that most moms who loved their children stayed and were there for them, but she knew that she didn't fit that bill. She'd loved her children with everything she had in her, and still, she'd left.

I'm not going anywhere. I promise, she whispered as she continued to nose at the girl.