Chapter 26

• Carmen couldn’t resist the girl’s enthusiasm and ordered two cones of rainbow ice cream, each scoop piled high with vibrant colors that made Alice’s eyes widen with delight. She paid for them with the cash she had on hand, enjoying the feeling of indulging in a sweet treat with a childlike sense of abandon.
• As they walked away from the stand, Alice happily licked at her ice cream, her cheeks stained with the bright colors, each lick leaving behind a trail of melted ice cream that dripped down the cone and onto her hand. Carmen smiled at the sight, feeling a sense of warmth spread through her chest at the innocence of the moment.
• Carmen didn’t know what it was, but there was something about the girl that felt too close to her own childhood, a time of simpler joys and carefree days. It was as if Alice was a missing piece of her own puzzle, a reminder of the person she used to be before life got complicated. She felt a tug at her heartstrings as she watched Alice enjoy the ice cream, wondering if she was making a mistake in involving herself in the girl’s life, but unable to resist the feeling of connection she felt towards her.