Willow arrived at the park early, her heart racing with anticipation. She sat down on a bench, watching as children played tag on the grass. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow over the scene.
As she waited, Willow's mind wandered back to the note. What did her mother want to talk about? Was it something serious, or just a routine conversation?
Just as Willow was starting to get anxious, she saw her mother walking towards her. Rachel looked tired, her eyes red from lack of sleep. She sat down beside Willow, putting a gentle hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"Hey, sweetie," Rachel said softly. "I'm glad you're here."
Willow looked up at her mother, searching for answers. "What's going on, Mom?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rachel took a deep breath, her eyes scanning the park as if searching for the right words. "Your father and I...we're having some problems," she said finally.
Willow felt a pang of sadness. She had known that her parents were fighting, but she had hoped that things would get better.
"What kind of problems?" Willow asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Rachel hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "We're just...growing apart, I think," she said finally.
Willow nodded, trying to process this new information. She knew that her parents loved her, but she couldn't help feeling like she was losing them.