[She might have expected one of the people she had wrapped around her finger to come and try to comfort her, but Kisume came as a surprise. It was startling to have someone so close, but...]
[But she remembered how her mother had reacted to that hug, long ago. Shock, anger, rejection that hurt worse than her fist did.]
[She wasn't a good person, but she would never, ever wish that on a child.]
[So she forced herself to relax, and patted the younger girl gently on the shoulder.]
Are you alright? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you worry.
CW in this comment - memories of child abuse and emotional neglect of a child
[She might have expected one of the people she had wrapped around her finger to come and try to comfort her, but Kisume came as a surprise. It was startling to have someone so close, but...]
[But she remembered how her mother had reacted to that hug, long ago. Shock, anger, rejection that hurt worse than her fist did.]
[She wasn't a good person, but she would never, ever wish that on a child.]
[So she forced herself to relax, and patted the younger girl gently on the shoulder.]
Are you alright? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you worry.