But it was hard.

The giant frogs had distracted her for a while, but they were gone and Acily said they only came on Tuesdays. Hopefully Tamryn would be gone by the next one.

It wasn't as if she didn't like this world, she just didn't want to be trapped in it. Maybe she would take her mom here one day, and they would sip Honey Ginger teas together. That would be nice.

Then she wouldn't have to worry about anything. 

She was stressed. She kept chewing her lip, and fidgeting with her hands. It felt like it was somehow her fault.

And she couldn't do anything about it.

Tamryn could feel Acily's eyes on her, the words unspoken.

Acily wasn't to blame. 

She remembered some thing her mom told her, about how "people cannot control what you decide, they can only influence your choices". 

Acily couldn't control her. The decision to stay for a few more hours had been on her.

Oh, she wanted her mom's comforting voice. She would know what to say.

Tamryn closed her eyes and tried to imagine her words.

"It's all right. No one could have forseen what would happen. Acily was shocked and this was her world. You shouldn't blame yourself for forces you can't control."

Her mother's words were always a comfort, imaginary or not.