1 Denial

The sun shied behind some clouds that affloat in the sky. The wind blew occasionally added to the nice and cloudy weather at 5pm. There are laughters in every parts of the park. Some people are jogging along the jogger's paths with earphones plugged in their ears, some are cycling and while others just strolling on the park. There are also several parents having a picnic while their children running around them.

"Don't run far, sweetheart."

The melodious voice of the woman in white shirt paired with dungaree attracted others nearby. She follow after her child in slow walk. Her raven chest-long hair which tied in high ponytail sway when the wind blew. They whispering how beautiful and cute the faces of the mother daughter duo with matching clothes.

The child with two pigtails, which they assumed around 5 years old, running back to her mother while shouting, "Ma..ma..ma..".

The woman crouch down and open the small picnic basket. She pull out some wet tissues to wipes the sweats on the child's face and neck, while her daughter try to hug her mother affectionately.

"Let's sit on that vacant bench. You must be tired," said the woman while carrying her daughter towards the bench.

She make her daughter sit properly on the bench and pull out some more wet tissues to wipes the child's hands. Afterwards, she open the basket and take out some water and some snacks and pass them to her daughter.

The child take the water and gulped several times before started to munch on the snack bar and some oranges.

"Don't eat too fast. Nobody will take your foods. Munch properly before you gulped it down".

They hear she chided gently to her daughter.

After her daughter consume the snacks and water to her heart content, she store back the remaining food in the picnic basket. While she remains sitting on the bench, she watch her daughter run off to play with other kids not so far from where she was seated. A dotting smile blossom on her face. The smile make her face even more beautiful, thus make others take another look while some blatantly ogle her. They can't help but lamented how pity that she had married. If not, they willing to try flirting with her.

"Pon..pon..pon.."

After some time, the child running back to her mother. She try to pull her mother up from the bench and pointing towards a direction while licking her lips a few times. The woman laugh whole-heartedly when she see her daughter actions.

"Okay, okay..just a second. Come here first and let me wipe your sweats," she said after ceasing her laughter. But a wide smile still can be seen adorn on her face.

"You want to eat ice cream, don't you?" she asked her daughter which the latter nodded vigorously.

While playing, she hear the ice cream truck horned and become excited.

A couple of minutes later, the pair start to walk towards the ice cream truck while holding hands. However, twenty meters before they could arrive and line up to buy the ice cream, the woman suddenly stop in her tracks. The child tugging her mother's hand to urge her to walk faster. But her mother remain frozen on the spot.

After another tugging, the woman seem to snap from her dazed state and look down robotically at her daughter. The child ask her mother what is wrong using her expressive eyes.Then she make a puppy eyes to plead her for an ice cream.

The woman look up again towards a direction and stare hard at the scene that happen not too far from their position.

"It can't be..it can't be..it can't be..." The child hear her mother mumbling again and again.

The woman try very hard to deny everything that happen in front of her eyes. Her eyes follow every movements with wide eyes.

After some time, she felt another tugging and realise they had stood there for quite amount of time. With a force smile and heavy steps, she walk slowly to line up and buy a chocolate flavoured ice cream for her daughter.

She trudge in the opposite direction while looking back several times. She wish everything that happen just an illusion, but it's proven a reality.

She shake her head and blinking several times, trying so hard to deny it. Unbeknownst, a peal of tears pour down along her cheeks and she squat down on the passerby paths.

A small hand wiping her tears away and she hear "Ma...ma..ma...?"

Upon look up, she saw a worried face of her daughter. She pull her daughter towards her body and hug the child tightly.

"Nothing, sweetheart. Let's just go back home. I'll cook yummy food for you."