Looked through the halls as I padded down them. The walls were a dull gray with the smell of mold dripping from the air. The paintings of me, my husband, and my sons hung on the walls. I see their smiling faces, their blue eyes, their happy smiles, what happened? When did I stop seeing those perfect smiles? When did I stop being the mother they deserved? "Mommy?" I heard his voice, my little Arzhael, my youngest son. I turned around, clutching the white fabric on my body, trying to hold back my cry of grief. "Yos?" I frowned at the way my vocals warped as I spoke, but my little chubby son didn't care. "I love you!" Arzhael hugged my legs, I bent down and hugged him, my tears soaking his red hair. Gods... Please forgive me for what I'm about to do. "Pum Revo ug tee." I bit my lip till I tasted blood; I couldn't even say I love you one last time to my son? I looked at Arzhael, his hair a crimson red like his father when he was in his prime and those gray eyes...I couldn't help but see his face flash through my mind as I planted a kiss on Arzhael's forehead, pinching his chubby cheeks so that I could hear him giggle one last time. Oh, I was so delighted when I found out he was the spitting image of his father; I took so much pride in bearing him, but now all I feel is horror as I look at my husband's...No, my son's eyes staring into mine. I can't let him see me break down. Let him hate me and think I'm cold... But no son deserves to see his mother cry. I ushered Arzhael away, I watched as he waddled down the halls to his bedroom. The moment I heard the familiar click of the door, I wandered down the stairs, holding the railing with one hand and the other on my stomach. My breath caught in my throat as I saw the chilling golden statue, his lips so perfectly carved into a scream of pain, his hands bound to the ground as they had been when they did that to him. I let out a strangled cry as I looked at him, or what was him, Oryn? Oryn, my poor son... How could your father have sent you on this mission? I remember that feeling, the chill that ran down my spine when I saw the golden statue in front of the gates, the way I screamed as Marshal Raphael held me, the very feeling of my vocal cords shaking in my throat and knotting together. The men said I overreacted, but nobody understood the grief of a mother, the grief of knowing my husband did this, the fact that I couldn't even give my son a proper burial. I touched his cold cheek, feeling the smooth gold before I walked away. As I walked, I thought about everything I was leaving behind: my soulmate, my sons, my life, my home, my everything, all because I couldn't let the child in my womb meet the same fate as Oryn. I balled up my fist and banged on the door. Almost immediately, I heard Suraci's grumbling as he opened the door, his eyes drooping with tiredness, and his face smudged from sleeping with his makeup on. "Bernia?" My father-in-law scowled at me. Clearly wondering why I was bothering him during his beauty sleep. I knew the rumors of my voice had reached him, the way I spoke gibberish now, so I did what I could, even if it was embarrassing. "Pum whaxavo te chaxaupp um ug, proaxaso." I winced at my voice and how it cracked. I could see how Suraci winced, too, disgust flashing in his eyes. "Leaving him, finally?" I growled at the satisfaction in his voice, the way he was so pleased I was leaving his son. Yet, I nodded and walked into his house, sitting on his luxurious loveseat. I felt the squirming in my stomach, a bittersweet feeling... I did this all for you. I did this because I can feel the strength of you within me. I must make the sacrifice so that your father doesn't kill you slowly.
Nine months later
My child let out a screech as I held her, her face wrinkled and red and perfect. Her eyes were a deep blue, and she had small tufts of blonde on her head... She was the spitting image of me.
Welcome to the world, Reagan.
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