190 The truth of her birth IV

Miriam

The morning I left; the temple was quiet. Everyone was still sleeping in their chambers from the chilliness of the early morning. I didn’t take anything. I wanted no reminder of this place.

I stepped out into the cool dawn air, and paused, glancing back at the temple that had been my home for so long. But now, I was leaving.

Shaking my head, to fight the nostalgia, I turned away and started walking down the path that led to the home of the midwife. For the first time in three months, I felt relief. I was going to start afresh, a life where I would no longer be just a priestess who had given up her child, but a mother searching for a way to heal my shattered heart.

It took me about an hour to arrive at the Midwife’s house.

When I reached it, I paused at the gate, listening for sound. I must have stood there for about ten minutes when I heard the piercing cry of a baby. I paused, listening. One of the doors to the room opened and the husband of the midwife emerged and crossed over to the other side of the house.

A moment later, the midwife and her husband came from the other side of the house carrying a baby. The midwife passed the baby to her husband who was playing with her, nuzzling her with his mouth.

I stood frozen where I was hidden as I watched them. That was my baby.

Her brown curls curled around her hair like carpet. She was cooing, laughing at the funny noise the midwife’s husband was making. They didn’t give the baby away? I wondered silently, watching them.

After staying there for a while, I summoned courage and walked into the compound. As soon as the midwife and her husband saw me, a small smile settled on their lips as if they had been expecting me.

“You don’t look surprised?” I asked.

The midwife laughed. “I knew you were going to come back. All the women always came back for their babies and I kept her for you.”

“Do you want to hold her?” her husband asked gently.

My eyes misted with tears. “Can I?”

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truth of her

I gently took her from the man, and a tear rolled down my cheek. She placed her

if my heart would burst with warmth. Every sadness that had taken

ran away?” the

anymore. They won’t let me

temple, here would be

shakily. I had thought about leaving and I knew I couldn’t stay here but

to get a job,” the husband of the mid–wife started saying. “Even if you do get

shook my head. “He doesn’t want us.”

Poultry Keeper for him for that pack? It’s not so much a job if you look at it. There’ll be a roof over their head and the pay is

just newly married a year and some months precisely and the Luna has been trying for a baby. This baby is good luck, who knows, their fortune

is special, Miriam. Since she has been with us, we’ve had

thanked her and followed the man. Three hours later, we arrived at the pack and went straight to the pack house. When we arrived at the Alpha’s house, we were ushered in and asked to wait for the Luna.

and the baby’s voice was echoing, I decided to take her outside. Just as I stepped out,

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truth of

same ones that had attracted me seemed more intense. Only they were now open, staring at me

he rushed up the stairs towards me. “What are you doing here?”

managed a smile. Lyla had stopped crying too and was staring at him with baby curiosity

here? I don’t recall if there’s any ceremony being done at the pack today. You look…” he paused, his eyes

don’t look half as bad

is my pack, Blue Ridge. What are you doing here, Miriam?” he asked for the third time. “Don’t tell me you came

was coming down. “I came

staring at me with

these days we will catch up, that is if I can

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