Just then, Tina''s mother came hobbling onto the balcony on her cane with a kindly look in her eyes. "Wilbur''s a good man you can trust with the rest of your life. I won''t make you lose out on your happiness just to be selfish."


    "Mom..."


    Tears welled up in Tina''s eyes. She had fallen deeply in love with Wilbur during their time together, but her mother had always been at the back of her head. Tina was touched to hear her mother''s words, but she shook her head all the same.


    "What''s the matter? Do you not want that?"


    Tears streamed down Tina''s cheeks as she sobbed. "You are my mother, and I can''t just abandon you. If you really want me to live with Wilbur in Dasha, I hope you cane with me. Can we go to Dasha together, Mom?"


    Tina''s mother gazed at the setting sun as her eyes turned ssy. A long whileter, she turned to leave quietly. Aidementon was where she and her lover had spent their lives together, and the city held too many memories for her to leave.


    The truth was that Tina had understood her mother''s intentions the second she turned away. Tina watched as her mother left the balcony, knowing that it was time she said goodbye to Wilbur and gave their rtionship some closure.


    Tina wiped her tears, looking at Wilbur. "See? My mother won''te to Dasha with us. I''m sorry."


    She had wanted to say harsher words so Wilbur would know to back off but could not bring herself to do so in the end. She sobbed quietly, choking out an apology and turning to leave.


    "Wait, Tina. Maybe we could give it another try? Your mother might change her mind."


    "There''s no point. She''s never changed her mind all these years."


    Tina knew what her mother was like and turned to leave herself. Wilbur looked up at the night sky, letting out a sigh before he returned to the attic.


    Later that night, there was a knock on his door.


    "Wilbur, have you gone to bed?"


    "Not yet, ma''am. Please,e in."


    Wilbur opened the door and let Tina''s mother into the room, who looked around and said, "You''ve done a good job at tidying the ce up. I''m d."


    "Oh, it''s nothing. I just cleaned up a little."


    Wilbur understood the olddy''s intentions and said nothing as he kept his head bowed. Atst, Tina''s mother let out a sigh. "You know how stubborn my daughter is, Wilbur. She can''t let me go. I''ll be honest. I can tell she loves you a lot. I don''t want her to lose out on her own happiness because of me, and I hope you can talk to her, so she''ll go to live with you in Dasha."


    Wilbur was about to speak when a figure dashed past the door. He rushed out to see who it was, but there was no one in sight.


    Of course, Wilbur could recognize Tina in a heartbeat.


    There was a letter and a gift box on the floor. Wilbur opened the box to reveal a pair of y dolls, one of him and one of Tina. He thought back to the time he and Tina walked past a stall selling handmade y dolls when they had gone shopping for a suit, and Tina had said she loved y dolls. Wilbur took a deep breath and opened the letter.