Vivian was thoroughly drained. The sight of Finnick's face reminded her of Larry. She couldn't help but reach out a hand to hug him, muttering Larry's name repeatedly under her breath.
"Little pumpkin, you're finally back! Do you have any idea how much I have missed you?"
Finnick felt a small patch of wetness on his shoulder as she spoke. He knew without looking that they were from her tears. It was a true portrayal of a mother losing her child.
As soon as she saw someone who had the slightest resemblance, she would delude herself into thinking it was her child. It was an instinctive process of the human brain to use such a method to make up for the grief they felt. However, if it developed into an advanced stage, the same condition would be diagnosed as a mental illness.
With no alternative, Finnick could only impersonate Larry and asked in a cajoling tone, "Then, shall we go home?"
Vivian nodded, allowing him to lead her to his car.
When they arrived back at the house, she had already fallen into a deep slumber. Both of them had spent the entire day walking and searching respectively. They were exhausted. One peaceful night was all they could ask for.
The next morning, it was Vivian who broke the silence with her sorrowful cry. "My little pumpkin!" Finnick instantly jolted awake, looking at Vivian in concern. "What happened?” he asked. He had already expected she would wake up feeling dejected. But seeing her condition, he was at a complete loss.
"Finnick! My son... My son, he's dead!" Vivian's eyes widened as she stared at him before she hopped out of bed rapidly.
Finnick felt truly powerless witnessing her in that way. Although it was evident that she had suffered a great blow to her mental state, he had no idea how to assist her in dealing with her trauma.
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