Hushed Willows Every day I've got a smile where my frown goes

This time, when Mae felt the touch around her shoulders and atop her head, she didn't pull away. She folded into the embrace and cried openly, burying her face in the pale fur at Reverie's neck. Why did she leave? Mae nearly choked on the words, and they came out muffled.

This was the question which had haunted her ever since she'd learned to ask it of herself. Ever since she'd become aware of this absence in her life. What was so horrible about her, to have made her mother leave?

Jakoul had loved her, once. Why did she stop?