When they got home, Child's Mom looked at the child, who was still fast asleep, and hesitated.
"Should we wake her?"
She looked at Child's Dad.
Child's Dad checked the time.
"Let's wake her."
"Anna must be hungry."
"It's not good to sleep on an empty stomach."
"She can go back to sleep after dinner if she wants."
Mm.
Child's Mom nodded.
She gently patted the child's back. "Anna, time to get up."
"Anna..."
The mushroom-haired little girl's features twitched slightly.
Finally, after Child's Mom called her again and again, the mushroom-haired little girl's eyelids stirred.
The mushroom-haired little girl struggled to open her eyes.
"Anna."
Child's Mom smiled.
"You're up."
"Can you smell the food?"
"You must be hungry, right?"
"Come eat first."
"Then you can go back to sleep."
The mushroom-haired little girl shook her head.
Her eyes widened.
Her blurry vision gradually cleared.
"Mom..."
"Yes?"
Child's Mom held the child as she sat on the sofa.
She turned the child to face her. "What is it?"
"Did you wake up and forget who Mom is?"
"That would make Mom very sad."
The mushroom-haired little girl immediately shook her head.
How could that be?
How could she not recognize Mom?
Child's Mom gently tapped the mushroom-haired little girl on the forehead.
"All right."
"Mom was just teasing you."
"Are you awake now?"
"Would you like to wash your face?"
"Shall I take you to wash your face?"
"It'll help you wake up."
Child's Mom was about to get up with the child in her arms when she swayed slightly—
"Careful."
The man immediately reached out and steadied the woman's elbow.
He helped her regain her balance.
"Let me."
The man took the child from her arms.