The Family Origin

Chapter Forty-Four: MAISIE POV

The pain was laced across my temple like lightning bolts were striking my skull. My mouth was filled with a terrible taste, and my tongue was dry and heavy. My muscles ached, and my bones were heavy. I did not have the strength to open my eyes or move my body. My mind was cloudy from all of the pain, making it difficult to form any coherent thoughts. I was stuck in a haze of agony and exhaustion.

A few seconds passed before I recognized the feeling of someone running their fingers through my hair. The touch was calming and became the only thing I could focus on in this barely conscious state. What had happened to me? Who was touching me? My eyelids were too heavy to open, trapping me in a horrible darkness. A soft moan came from my lips because it was the only sound I could make.

"Maisie." I heard Miles's voice, but it seemed so far away.

The fingers stopped running through my hair, and a hand cupped the side of my face. A rough, calloused thumb brushed across my cheek. I tried to lift my hand to touch the person, but my arm was too heavy to allow me to move. I tried to gather all of my strength in my hand, but I was unable even to curl my fingers in and out.

What was happening? Was I dying? Was Miles here and watching this happen to me? Why was he letting this happen? I wanted to scream, but I could not even make the pathetic noise anymore.

Against my will, I fell back into unconsciousness.

–

When I woke again, the pain in my muscles had lessened but I was still achey. The throb remained in my temple, but it was much more manageable now. I was finally able to move, and I groaned as I rolled onto my side. I curled into a ball and clutched the soft knit blanket to my chest. My thumb brushed across the skin of my collarbone. Where were my clothes? I rarely slept naked next to Miles.

There was movement next to me, but my eyes were closed. The floor creaked before the mattress dipped. Fingers grazed along the bare skin of my arm, from my shoulder down to my elbow.

"Maisie," Miles said. "You're awake."

How long had I been unconscious? Had Miles stayed next to me the entire time? Did he know what happened to me?

I was able to open my eyes, but my vision was blurry. After blinking a few times, my sight cleared enough so I could see I was laying on our bed. Something about the room was different, but it took me a few moments to decipher the change.

Briar's crib was no longer in the room.

The memories of her finding her lifeless body this morning flooded my mind. Fragments of this morning came back to me, including how Miles pinned me to the bed while Joseph covered my face with a rag. They were the ones who did this to me. They could not handle me crying over my baby.

"Briar." My voice was dry and hoarse. "Briar."

I could not form any more words. Why was the crib gone? Had they gotten rid of all of her things? Had they buried her body? Why would they not let me say goodbye?

"Briar." Warm tears rolled down my cheeks as my voice cracked. I closed my eyes, unable to stare at the empty space. "Briar."

Miles let out a deep breath before he reached forward and touched my hair. I raised my hand to swat his arm away, but my movements were too slow. Miles snatched my wrist before I could hit him, and he pinned my arm to the bed in front of me. His weight shifted on the mattress, and I opened my eyes to see he was now crouched next to the bed. He kept my wrist in his grip. I squeezed my eyes shut, not wanting to look at him anymore.

"We buried her," Miles said.

His words were like a sharp stab to the heart. They had already put her in the ground. They did not give me an opportunity to say goodbye to my daughter. Miles's touch caused my skin to crawl like a thousand insects were burrowing into my flesh. I jerked my arm to escape his hold, but he refused to let go.