“Bella!” Mrs. Williams’ voice diverts the attention of her daughter back into reality. She’s been forcing herself to fall asleep for hours since they got home. But she failed to. The image of Rafa from earlier keeps flashing onto her mind. 

She curls up once again before deciding to get up and checks the time on her newly-hanging wall clock. It’s almost 6PM. And they need to head over to the old lady’s crib. 

“Welcome! You’ve grown so much, mi Carina!” The old lady hugs her as soon as she opens the door for them. Then she hugs her back, tightly. “How are you? How's Texas?”

Bella looks back to her mom and hesitantly answers, “It was great.” And forces a smile that doesn’t look forced at all.

“I knew you’d love it there.” She gently the young girl's hair then leans in to greet Mrs. Williams before she takes the salad   they brought.

“Well, let’s save the chitchat in the dine.” She tells them and invites them inside. Bella and her mom were told to wait in the living room to give her time to prepare the plates. But Mrs. Williams was insistent that she do it herself, afraid that it might tire the old lady. That leaves the latter and Bella on the couch, sitting across from each other.

Bella had a different feeling since she stepped inside this house. She looks around, nothing's really changed. The painting hanging on the wall, the coffee table, the curtains and tablecloth that matches the colour of the house are still the same. 

It still looks the same. But it feels different.

Her home somehow feels lighter.

The old lady suddenly sighs heavily while staring outside the window. It is time for sunset. Its sun rays shine across the hill with a soft colour orange. Like in those paintings you see in the museum.

“Is something bothering you?” Bella asks and notices that the older indolent won’t take her eyes off in the view of the wide green field. Bella stares outside, too. Expecting to find something that might be the cause of the old lady’s edginess. 

“I think Kristen won’t come home until dinner’s over. Silly me to expect that she might give this time a chance.” She turns to Bella and smiles a little. “She doesn’t really like attention. She’s demure and a sensitive kid. That’s why my heart feels so happy whenever she initiates the little talks.” 

“She’s trying to break out from her comfort zone. You’ll get there before you know it.” Bella reaches for her hand and squeezes