Footsteps crunched against the snow, shaky breaths echoing through the calmness of the night. A woman held her son, who had only seen his seventh winter, close. Her raven colored hair peaked through the scarf she had on her head. Her shoes were tattered, her dress was in an even worse state. Her boy though, he had fresh clothes, a big, well-knitted, blue scarf around his neck, and looked very well cared for. The woman slowly made her way up set of stairs to a large cathedral. The woman did not know the name of this house of god. She did, however, know that this place would take in children.
Her hands trembled as she knocked against the beautifully engraved door. The first three knocks were left unanswered, but the fourth left the mother staring at a tall, well dressed, man. It was always a shock to see how rich simple churchmen could be. "Sir..." the woman began, "My boy, I can no longer care for him. My job was stolen from me and I cannot properly provide for him any longer. His father was a man of this faith, so he would serve god well."
The man's brow raised out of sheer curiosity, beginning to eye the boy then the woman. "Do I dare ask what your beliefs are Madame?"
"No sir, don't dare, for what I believe does not pertain to my darling son. He needs sanctuary, please grant him this." the woman pleaded.
The man once again began to look at the boy, then the church door. "What is the boy's name so I may add him to the ledger?"
"Thank you monsieur!" the woman exclaimed. "His name is Benjamin d'Edourd."
"Hand him over to me, but be warned, once he is handed off to me you may never get to see your son again." The man said with a cold look in his eye.
The woman looked heartbroken, but she moved forward anyway, handing her blessing off to the man. And once the doors to the cathedral were shut she just stood there. She did not step away from this spot till morning. She needed to make sure her son was not going to be left out on the steps the moment she was out of view. And, to much of her relief, Benjamin was not brought out. And with all the burning on her skin from the cold, and her feet sore, she began to walk away. Her heart and soul were warmer than her body in this moment. Knowing her son was safe, going to be fed, and have a bed every night was enough to keep her happy. And with that the raven haired woman stepped away, disappearing into the forest, never to be seen by another soul in this town again.
