Anora rushed through her apartment, desperately trying to get Hazel to eat her breakfast. The little girl was being her usual stubborn self, running around the living room, her giggles echoing as she dodged her mother's attempts to get her seated.
"Hazel, sweetheart, please! Just one bite, then you can play," Anora pleaded, holding up a spoonful of oatmeal. Hazel, however, had other plans.
"No, mama, I don't want to eat!" she protested, crossing her arms defiantly.
Anora sighed, trying to catch her breath. "Haze, just one bite. It'll only take a second, then you can do whatever you want," she begged.
Hazel, full of energy, shook her head furiously and took off in the opposite direction. Anora groaned but didn't give up, chasing after her daughter around the living room. Hazel squealed as she ran in circles, her little feet pattering on the hardwood floor.
Just as Anora was about to give up, the doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of help. Mrs. Phelps, Hazel's nanny, entered with a smile and a friendly wave.
"Looks like I'm just in time," Mrs. Phelps said, her warm voice filling the room. She stepped in, immediately going over to Hazel, who stopped in her tracks at the sight of her favorite nanny.
"Thank goodness," Anora sighed with relief, stepping aside to let Mrs. Phelps take over. "Please, Mrs. Phelps, save me. I can't get Hazel to eat anything this morning."
Mrs. Phelps chuckled as she knelt down to Hazel's level. "Good morning, sweet girl. How about we have just one bite before you run off to play?" she suggested, her voice soft and coaxing.
Hazel looked up at Mrs. Phelps with a pout but nodded. "One bite," she agreed, holding her arms out for the spoon.
"Thank you," Anora muttered under her breath, giving Mrs. Phelps a grateful smile. She was about to leave but paused for a moment, looking at Hazel, who was now happily eating.
"Haze, I'm off to the hospital, okay?" Anora said, walking over to her daughter to kiss her forehead.
"Love you, mama!" Hazel called out, her voice full of sweetness.
Anora felt a pang in her chest, but she pushed it down. She had a busy day ahead at the hospital, but she would be back soon. With a final wave, Anora left the apartment, her thoughts on everything she had been juggling in the past few years. It wasn't just her career anymore—it was all about Hazel now. Her life had changed so much, but she wouldn't have it any other way.
At the hospital, Anora's day flew by. She was greeted by her boss, as always, and then slipped into her usual routine of caring for patients. She checked in on a few cases, gave some updates, and did what she could to make the day run smoothly.
Still, her mind wandered often. What had her life been like before Hazel? So many priorities, so much uncertainty. And now, everything had shifted. It was just her and Hazel.
By late afternoon, Anora found a moment to call Mrs. Phelps. "Hey, has she eaten anything yet?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
"She's fine, don't worry. We got through breakfast eventually," Mrs. Phelps replied, her voice soothing. "And now she's looking forward to tonight. She's been asking about movie night all day."
Anora smiled at the thought of her daughter. "Good. I promised her we'd watch Harry Potter. For the hundredth time, apparently," she added, a hint of laughter in her voice.
Mrs. Phelps chuckled. "I think you're going to be able to quote every line by the end of this week."
Anora laughed. "I think I already can. I swear, she's obsessed with that movie."
"Hey, at least it keeps her entertained," Mrs. Phelps teased. "You deserve a break tonight. Don't stress too much."
"Thanks, I appreciate that," Anora said, her voice softening. "But I'm just glad Hazel has you. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Don't mention it, dear. I'm always happy to help," Mrs. Phelps said warmly. "I'll make sure she's ready for you when you get home."
As Anora finished her shift at the hospital, she decided to stop by a bakery on her way home. She picked up a small chocolate cake for Hazel, knowing how much her daughter adored it.
By the time Anora arrived at the apartment, Adeline Carter , her best friend, had already arrived. Adeline was a journalist with a knack for knowing exactly when Anora needed a good friend to talk to.
Adeline was sitting on the couch, scrolling through her phone when Anora walked in. "Hey, you're late. Hazel's already been asking when we can start the movie."
Anora smiled, setting the cake down on the counter before sitting next to Adeline. "I brought cake," she said, holding up the box.
"Ooh, my favorite!" Adeline exclaimed, taking the box and placing it on the table. "I'm guessing Hazel will eat most of it."
Anora laughed softly. "Probably. She's been asking for movie night all day, so now that it's here, I think we're all set."
Hazel, sitting on the couch with wide eyes, bounced in excitement. "Mama! Movie time!" she shouted.
Anora shook her head in mock exasperation. "Alright, alright, let's get this over with," she said, giving Adeline a knowing look as she walked to the TV. "Harry Potter, again."
As the familiar opening theme filled the room, Adeline looked at Anora, her tone turning more serious. "You know, when you first came to London, you weren't like this at all. You were so different, so focused on your career," Adeline said, her voice soft but probing.
Anora paused for a moment, her hand on the remote. She looked at Adeline, her expression turning thoughtful. "Yeah… I was different," she admitted, her voice quieter than usual. "But now, everything's about Hazel. She's my whole world. I can't imagine my life without her."
Adeline nodded, but her tone grew more probing. "But do you think you did the right thing seven years ago? You gave up everything for her, Anora."
Anora's eyes darkened for a moment, the weight of those years pressing down on her. "Yes, I did. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Everything I did, I did it for her," she said firmly, her voice steady.
Adeline was quiet for a moment, then spoke again, her words softer. "But do you ever wonder what might have happened if you had made a different choice?"
Anora shook her head, looking away. "I can't change the past, Adeline. I made my choice, and it was the right one. Hazel needed me, and I couldn't walk away."
Adeline sighed and leaned back, watching Hazel with a fond smile as she recited lines from the movie. "Alright, alright. I won't push. But you do realize, this is the 50th time we've watched this, right?"
Anora chuckled, picking up a piece of cake and taking a bite. "I've lost count. But if that's what Hazel wants, then that's what we're going to do."
As the movie played on, Hazel's little voice echoed through the apartment, reciting lines word for word. Anora smiled to herself, thinking of all the things she had given up for Hazel, and yet how she wouldn't change a thing.
Adeline, sitting beside her, nudged her playfully. "So, do you miss him?" she asked, her voice teasing.
Anora stiffened for a moment, then let out a soft sigh. "Is that even a question, Adeline?" she said, her voice tinged with a mix of longing and resignation. "Of course, I do."
"But more than Hazel?" Adeline pressed, a playful glint in her eyes.
Anora shot her a look. "Stop it, you're not making me choose between them," she said, her voice light but firm.
"Not really a choice, though, is it?" Adeline said with a shrug. "You chose Hazel seven years ago. It was always going to be her, wasn't it?"
Anora didn't answer right away. She just watched Hazel, who was now snuggled up with her favorite blanket, completely absorbed in the movie.
"Yeah," she whispered, "I guess I did." And as she sat there, she realized that, no matter what, she would always choose Hazel—because she was everything Anora had ever wanted and more.