Mark Reed picked up a small stone, swung his long arm, and tossed it towards the center of the lake. The stone skipped three times on the water's surface before finally sinking to the bottom.
In Mark's eyes, losing Valentine Teller felt like that stone sinking to the lake bottom, never to see the light of day again.
"Mark, can't you just consider your mom's intentions for once?" Mother Reed earnestly tried to persuade him: "You're already thirty-six, why are you still so stubborn? When have I ever harmed you?"
Mark frowned, "Mom, please stop trying to persuade me. I don't want to listen."
"You..." Mother Reed's face turned livid with anger, "You're just like your father, ungrateful."
Mother and son sat silently by the lake, both weighed down by the past.
Valentine Teller set the dishes on the table as Mark and his mother returned. Seeing Mother Reed's red eyes, she quickly approached, using her eyes to ask Mark: "What happened?"
