Chapter 12

Aria stood there, frozen in shock, as tears flowed down her cheeks, her expression a mix of sadness and desperation. She whispered, "Mom," her voice barely audible, her eyes locked onto her mother's frail form. Her mother slowly turned to her direction, her expression blank, her eyes devoid of any emotion.
As their eyes met, Aria's mother looked at her with no reaction on her face, her voice barely above a whisper. "Who are you?" she asked, her words sending a pang of hurt through Aria's heart. Aria's expression faltered, her eyes welling up with tears, as she whispered, "Mom," her voice cracking with emotion.
"You don't recognize me?" she asked, her eyes searching her mother's face for any sign of recognition. Aria's mother looked at her, her expression still blank, as she said, "You have her face, doesn't mean you're my daughter." Aria's heart sank, her expression falling, as she didn't know what to do next.