188 The truth of her birth II Twenty three years ago .
Miriam POV Mother Liora made up a tale about me needing to go on a mission of self enlightenment , citing that I was the youngest person ever to be appointed as the next High priestess and as such , ! needed to .
I was tucked away in a little cottage on the outskirts of Golden Gate Pack , in the house of a middle aged midwife and her husband .
They would take care of me and , in turn , give my baby to couples who needed it when the time came .
Months passed , and my belly grew with the life inside me .
Mother Liora seldom came to visit me .
She would send either Terra or any of the younger priestesses but never came herself .
I couldnt tell if she was still disappointed in me , but I didnt have many options either .
Worse still , I tried to keep my distance , from the child growing within me , praying every night for the strength to follow through with my vow , but as the life within me stirred and grew stronger , so did my love for the child .
Often , I would remind myself that I was only the carrier and nothing more , and the baby was not mine to keep , to begin with .
But it was impossible .
Every kick , every flutter , felt like a bond being formed that I knew I could never sever .
How was I supposed to stay detached ? This was my child , a part of me and the thought of giving it away tore me apart .
You should eat the herbs dear , the midwife said gently , interrupting my thoughts .
The baby will be here anytime soon .
You need to be strong for her .
I nodded wordlessly picked up the bowl of herbs she had set before me and slowly started eating it .
After a while , I was feeling nauseated it was a symptom I started experiencing recently but the midwife assured me it was nothing to worry about .
I dropped the bowl anyway and turned to her .
She was grinding something on the stone .
How do you know its going to be a girl ? I asked quietly .
She smiled , without looking up and responded .
I just know .
Aside from the fact that girls take your beauty to look better , the position of the baby is slightly higher .
I looked at my baby bump , it looked normal to me .
The couple you intend to … Miriam ! she stopped me mid sentence , abandoning the stone she was grinding with .
Weve talked about this several times , I cannot tell you that but the couple are lovely and theyll treat her right .
You dont have to bother about that .
I yed with my fingers , trying to figure out how to exin this burst of emotions that had 06:53 4 188 The truth of her birth II recently begun to grow in my heart .
I just want to know , I sobbed quietly .
Please ! She stopped grinding for a minute , as she stared at me .
After a few seconds , she sighed , taking in a deep breath .
After the baby is born and we give it away , a few weekster , all of this guilt and emotions will disappear .
But if it is still the same after three months , if youe back to me , Ill tell you where she is .
My eyes lit up with hope .
You promise ? Yes , she nodded .
I do .
The child hade in the dead of the night .
I had been in so much pain that I passed out .
When I opened my eyes , I had seen Priestess Liora , Priestess Khaliah and Priestess Tania present .
They had helped to deliver the child and held a screaming baby in their arms .
It was Mother Liora who cuddled her , whispering warm words to the crying child .
They were waiting for the birthing of my centa .
It was Priestess Tania who noticed I was awake first .
Miriam , you did a good job , she murmured , smiling at me .
Its a girl and shes so beautiful .
I nodded turning my head sideways to the midwife who was at the other side of my leg .
She had a tired smile on her face .
She nodded to me .
I turned back to Mother Liora who had passed the baby to Priestess Khaliah .
Can I have the baby , please ? The priestesses exchanged worried nces .
Miriam , we agreed … Its okay , the midwife intervened .
Just before the centaes out , its okay for her to hold the baby .
It would just be like carrying her in the womb .
The three women exchanged worried nces again before Mother Liora ced the child on my chest .
She was a small , beautiful girl with a patch of brown hair .
I held the baby close to my chest , as I fought back tears , biting the insides of my mouth .
I had agreed to give the child way and had promised to follow Mother Liorasmand , but at this moment , all I wanted to do was run .
To take my baby and go far away from the temple , from the Golden Gates pack .
Far from thews , that bound me , to a ce where no one could ever find US .
But I didnt run .
The centa has been birthed .
Mother Liora came to me , her expression was stoic but I could see the sadness in her eyes .
Gently she took the child from my chest .
Im sorry , she whispered , her voice breaking for the first time since Ive known her .
I nodded ; my teeth still sped firmly on my lips .
I wanted to kiss my baby … but I was scared that I would never be able to let her go .
I watched silently as they handed the baby to the midwife who took her to the corner of the room while her assistants began to clean me .
I didnt notice what they were doing on my had my ever were fived on her Desnite how heav GG : 53 188 The truth of her birth II my eyes were , I forced them to remain open .
I wanted to remember what my baby looked like .
When she finished preparing the baby , she ced the child in a bass and turned to Mother Liora and the other women as they whispered for a few minutes .
I didnt mind them .
I wasnt interested in what they were saying .
I just kept staring at my baby .
When they finished whispering and the midwife was about to take the baby , I murmured the first name that came to mind .
L ! I muttered , drawing in a deep breath .
Her name is L .