Occasionally, they'd cross paths at the hospital, but she'd pretend not to see him.

Watching her walk past him, Mark fell into deep thought.

Peter nudged him and said, "You must've taken advantage of her, so she's scared.”

With his hands in his pockets, Mark thought of the kiss that day. The little girl curled up in his arms, like a helpless kitten. Perhaps it was because she was angry at him that she pushed him away these days.

But instead of deterring him, it had the opposite effect.