After some back and forth over the course of a few days, Marianne agreed to stay with the coffee shop owner and work there to save up some money to move to a different place.
The boy also didn't seem to mind and his condition finally started getting a bit better.
Now Marianne is standing in front of a mirror for the first time in a few weeks.
The first thing that catches her eye is her hair. It has turned to a dark crimson color, just like the boy's. It was no wonder the woman initially mistook them for siblings.
They both have crimson hair and rather pale skin, their faces are also similar in shape. But the most obvious thing are their facial expressions, they are absolutely identical. Which isn't all that surprising if you think about the fact that she is the only person he regularily interacted with over the course of seven years.
Knock, knock.
"Yes?"
"Can I come in?", asks the familiar voice hiding behind the door frame.
"Of course. Is your cough getting better, Silas?"
"Mhmm", he mumbles obviously very sleepy, as he steps forward to brush his teeth.
~It's strange being like this~, she thinks. Up until now she never had noticed their similarities, after all they are just doctor and patient, but slowly it's starting to feel like maybe they are truly becoming something along the lines of a family.
...
A few peaceful weeks have gone by and Marianne has accustomed herself to working at the coffee shop, although she's still quite clumsy, while serving customers.
The problem is that Silas' condition, isn't getting better. It's fortunate that it also didn't get worse, but if he doesn't get better soon, chances are he won't make it past spring.
As long as she's able to get all the ingredients she could make some medicine without any fancy equipment, but just like everything else they're way above her current budget.
She's lost in thoughts, about how to make more money, when she notices a familiar face entering the coffee shop. The second she calls out for her Silas also turns around and his face brightens instantly.
Without missing a beat he slips from his chair and hugs her excitedly. It's rare to see him smile like that, carefree with his dimples showing. It's a smile that can lighten up the whole room in a split second.
"It's been a while, little shrimp", says Marianne patting her head.
"I thought I told you not to call me that", the little girl says anger swinging in her voice, but it couldn't hide the relief on her face at their unscathed sight.
"Why not? You turn red every time you get angry, just like when you put a shrimp in boiling water."
"How do you even think about stuff like that?", the girl asks raising her eyebrow.
Listening in on their conversation Silas lets go of her, his eyes widening at the sight of her scarred face.
"What happened to your face?", he asks worried.
Her smile vanishes as she chuckles awkwardly.
"It's nothing to worry about, there was a small accident."
Before he's able to say anything else Marianne puts her hand on his shoulder, indirectly telling him to keep his mouth shut.
"Let it be, she doesn't want to talk about it."
"Yes, mom", he answers only then realizing what words just came out of his mouth.
"I'm sorry", he whispers as he quickly backs away and runs to the back.
"Mom?", the girl asks surprised.
She's aware that they get along very well, but it's not to the extent that he would call her 'mom'. At least not after what happened to his real mother.
Yet it doesn't feel strange hearing him call Marianne 'mom', she taught him pretty much everything he knows and was by his side all the time for seven years.
When she looks up she notices that Marianne has a strange expression on her face. It's a mixture of surprise, sadness and pain, but behind all that there's a small glimmer of hope and happiness in it, almost as if it's something she has wanted to hear for a very long time.
"I wasn't aware you were his mother", the shop owner says coming out from the back.
"I'm not", Marianne answers hesitantly.
"Hmm... Well it's none of my business anyway. And who is this little lady?", she asks looking at the girl.
"Leila", she says looking at the woman warily. "And who are you?"
"I'm the owner of this coffee shop, but you can call me Jasmine, given that you are a friend of my best employee", she chuckles, entertained by her fierce attitude.
"Employee?", she asks looking at Marianne incredulous.
"I can already feel you judging me for my choice of work", she mutters trying to find a way to escape from this conversation.
"Why wouldn't I?", Leila inquires.
It's truly a mistery how some people seem to not hear anything when they're asked something, but hear everything that's not meant for their ears.
"You were a scientist last I've heard so it's quite surprising seeing you like this."
"Really? I didn't know you worked in a field like that, you seem a bit too young for that", Jasmine joins in.
"I'm going to look how Silas is holding up, I'll be right back", Marianne says, quickly escaping from the scene.
Luckily after returning the conversation had taken a different turn. Both Marianne and Silas seem a lot more comfortable than when they rushed out.
Soon the sky turns into a warm orange color and it's time for Leila to leave again. But this time she feels happy, knowing that she'll see them again soon, unlike when she left last time.
As she stands in the door frame wrapped in the last bits of sunlight she turns around looking back for the last time.
"You're not allowed to leave again like last time, no matter what happens!"
"We won't", Marianne promises with a smile, knowing that she would end up breaking yet another promise to the people she values most.
"That's a promise", Leila smiles her hazel eyes sparkling brighter than the stars that filled the sky that night.
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