28. M O T H E R S : Love

LATIKA.

It had been a long day for art teacher Latika Chokshi, even though it was Sunday. She had prepared, set up, and hosted an art exhibition at Zoo Phoenix Academy that last from ten in the morning to noon; then she had collected all the chairs, stands, tables, and whatnot and put them away from noon to one; then she had volunteered at a soup kitchen from one-thirty to five-thirty; and finally, she'd spent the rest of the day cleaning her house. The last part wasn't so bad since MacKenzie and Koko had come by to help, but now, as Latika fell into her bed, the exhaustion caught up with in a flash. She drifted off almost immediately, falling into a restful sleep...

-

Latika slithered through the forest on Safe Haven's outskirts, collecting herbs and placing them in a basket. She had recently gone on an all-natural kick, opting to eat and take organic foods and medicines, respectively.

However, as she began to pluck some ripe berries from a bush, something else drew her attention—something that sounded eerily similar to a baby's cry.

Latika immediately stopped moving, her eyes widening and heart leaping in her chest as fear crept through her body. She knew the folklore of the surrounding area: if you heard a baby crying, it was entirely likely that you weren't hearing a baby at all, but the call of the ever-hungry Wendigo. Following it would mean certain doom for the naïve.

Latika remained still as the cry persisted. It seemed to grow more desperate as time went on, but it also didn't seem to be getting any closer or further. Surely, she thought, if it was a Wendigo, it would be moving, hunting, searching for prey—yet the sound did not change.

Eventually, Latika's curiosity got the best of her. As she slithered toward the sound, she told herself that if it did turn out to be a Wendigo, she was perfectly capable of escaping or fending for herself if necessary. It would be fine; all she'd do is take a peek and...

Latika's breath caught in her throat as she finally saw what was making the sound.

It was, in fact, an actual baby, crudely wrapped in cloth and lying on the forest floor, laid bare before the elements and wildlife around it. It continued to cry, tears streaking its pasty albino face and glinting in the fading sunlight.

"Oh...!" Latika dropped her basket, clasping her hands over her heart. She hurried toward the child and scooped it up in her arms, overwhelmed with emotion as she rocked it back and forth. "Hush, my love," she crooned. "Hush. It's alright. It's okay."

The baby's cries slowly faded to a whimper, and it opened its brilliant green eyes to stare at Latika.

Latika gently unwrapped some of the cloth around the baby's head—and frowned when she saw words written on the inside of the cloth in black marker. They seemed to have been written quickly and frantically, as they were messy and crude, but the message was clear:

"His name is Addison. Please take care of him. – Mother"

"Addison," Latika whispered, releasing the cloth and wiping tears from the baby's eyes. "Is that your name, darling? Addison?"

The baby burbled in response, grabbing onto Latika's finger.

Latika laughed. "Alright, then. Come along, Addi," she cooed, carrying the baby back toward Safe Haven and forgetting all about her fruit basket. "I'm going to be your mother now. I hope you don't mind."

"Mmmama," Addison responded.

"Wonderful! I think we'll get along well." Latika rubbed her nose against Addison's, making him giggle. "My precious gem," she murmured. "I will raise you as if you were my own, and love you more than anything. I promise..."