Three times a week, the ritual unfolded in the same heartbreaking way. Edward and Seraphine would arrive to pick up XiaoPu for three days.
As soon as XiaoPu saw them, his cries would punctuate the air. His tiny arms would hit Edward's chest as if trying to push him away, and his small teeth would sometimes find Edward's fingers.
Seraphine tried to comfort XiaoPu, gently patting his back in an attempt to calm him. However, her touch only seemed to exacerbate his distress.
The little boy lashed out at her next, his small hands swatting her away as if her very touch were unbearable.
They finally managed to secure him into the hover car's seat, his cries still filling the air as they closed the door.
The vehicle lifted off the ground and disappeared into the distance as XiaoPu's mother could only watch on.
