Although Elena had already wiped her eyes by the time she finally found Doc with another bunch of children – Maria amongst them –, that they were reddened would be an obvious indication that whatever she had told the child had not been easy or had not come along with a bunch of own, bad thoughts. Nonetheless she wore a smile as Doc began to laud her. Truth be told, she felt relieved. In the forefront she had pictured it a true torture to pay these kids, who themselves had suffered a lot, a visit. And although it had been hard to bear the weeping she had heard, as she reflected on it she began to realize it had not nearly been as cruel as she’d imagined in thoughts. At least not as bad concerning her own memories. The sight of those poor souls still was a gut-wrenching one.
She however seemed a little confused as she stepped before him, her gaze again and again wandering away from him towards the crowds of children exuberantly playing games. “Thank you,” she finally said, and turned her look back at him, arms akimbo. Hearing that she had apparently left an impression on that girl was soothing to her. That meant that Maria would keep her words in mind. “Do you really think I am? I really was just trying to offer a shoulder for her, nothing more.” And would have almost turned a weeping wreck herself.
While having another brief look at the children in the distance, she turned a question in her mind over and over again. How could she have been so selfish to believe she really was the only one suffering under problems? With churning thoughts, she stared into the distance while saying, “Alright,” with a slight smile playing around her lips and her brows wrinkled. “Just tell me as soon as we’ll leave.”
