Miss Stella looked at Alice, unsure what she was trying to make up for. She saved her, as well as countless other kids.
She watched the sorry look in Alice's eyes and then hugged her, wrapping her arms around her neck and said,
"You're just a kid." Alice's heart thumped. "Please be a kid."
It was too much to ask a child to take responsibility for that accident and any death that happened that day. It was too much to have her carry such responsibilities on her shoulders.
"Thank you," Alice said, falling into her warmth and closing her eyes.
"You know, if you call me mom one more time, I think it'll make up for everything." Miss Stella said and Alice laughed.
"It was a fluke. Don't bet on me calling you that a second time." She said, but how she wished she could call her that more often.
"Alright, then. Let's get you ready to leave."
The orientation was being held in the hall specially prepared by the agency.
