CHAPTER 180


    08.41


    Jenna was on the brink of a significant surgery. For a three–year–old, it was a daunting prospect.


    Sherilyn had long decided to gift Jenna something special, something


    expensive. To afford this gift, she had been scrimping and saving for months, opting for simple


    meals of toast and water, even skipping on her favorite


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    sauce.


    She was young and healthy and could handle a bit of hardship. But her Jenna, her poor little girl…


    “Mommy?” Ever so innocent, Jenna perked up at Sherilyn’s words, a cautious excitement in her


    voice. “Really?”


    “Of course, my love.” Sherilyn’s heart throbbed with bitter pain as she forced a smile. “Tell Mommy,


    what is it you’d like?”


    “Mommy,” Jenna said in her sweet, childlike voice, “I want a Minnie Mouse doll.”


    It was as expected. The Minnie Mouse doll Jenna wanted was a limited edition toy model. Jenna


    had fallen in love with it back in Crestwood. But it was too expensive, beyond Sherilyn’s reach.


    Yet, Sherilyn had never let that wish slip away. Even after moving to Sunhaven, she kept an eye out


    for it online, but to no avail. The links always turned up dead. Then, she heard that a store in


    Sunhaven hád it for sale offline. She was. determined to buy it to bring it back to Jenna in


    Crestwood. Especially with Jenna’s surgery looming, Sherilyn nned to return to Crestwood to be


    with her. Thankfully, her gigs at the Neon Nights Bar had been lucrative enough to cover the flight.


    The thought of Jenna facing surgery without her was unbearable.


    Dayster, after a long day of rehearsals with Daphne and an evening shoot at the theater, Sherilyn


    returned to Serenity Streette into the night. Despite the hour, she had an important task ahead.


    Just before eleven, she set out for TeeMall. TeeMall, Sunhaven’srgest


    shopping center, was closing for the night as Sherilyn arrived. She wasn’t there to shop but to


    queue.


    The limited edition Minnie Mouse doll Jenna desired was going on sale the following morning with


    pre–orders. Firste, first served. So, there she was, ready to spend the night in line, ensuring


    she could secure Jenna’s dream gift.


    Upon arrival, Sherilyn was relieved to find only six others ahead of her. With a limited stock of


    twenty, her chances were good. Prepared, she unfolded her portable chair, settling in with snacks,


    water, and a nket to wait out the night.


    As the night grew colder, Sherilyn wrapped herself tightly in her nket.


    Suddenly, a familiar voice called out to her, “Sherilyn?”


    Surprised, she looked up, her heart sinking. It was that man. Sunhaven was a small town. She’d cut


    him off since theirst encounter when he’d refused to lend her money. Without a word, Sherilyn


    looked away, ignoring him.


    “Sherilyn.” His brows furrowed in concern as he scanned her. “What are you doing here? It’ste.


    Why aren’t you at home?”


    Realizing her financial struggles, he reached for his wallet, saying, “Look, I always carry my card


    with me…”


    Sherilyn felt a mix of irritation and desperation, sitting there in the cold, all for the love of her


    daughter.