As I lay dying, I prayed to the goddess Alorie who had cursed me the day I took my first breath in this world. I prayed to her as fervently as I had when I was younger, back when my mind was filled with the childish hope that she would someday forgive me and my family wouldn't look at me with disdain and disgust.

I coughed, choking on my blood beside my husband who had given up his entire life and world to protect me, who had died breaking his back on this accursed land with a smile on his face. My husband, who had never complained, never pressured me, never bullied me, and always believed me. He had stuck resolutely by my side all this time, and now… now he was dead.

I found him after nightfall when the silence was heaviest. No insects chittered, the land was cursed, we were the only living beings this far south of Angor. It had sucked everything it could from him, from us. He was a shell of the man he once was, hollow cheeks, ribs straining against his black skin, and arms that were once the size of an ox had wasted away to taut skin and thin bones. While I stayed inside mired in sadness, hiding from Alorie. I didn't want her to enjoy another second of my pain.

Why had she cursed me so many moons ago?

I had left him to bear it all on his own. And he had borne it silently all this time without ever reproaching me. He had fed me, lit fires, washed our clothing, fixed up the small hut, and spoke of a future full of hope.

I screamed into the night, after a lifetime of tears, I couldn't even fond the tears to cry. I instinctively grabbed the pitiful knife he had been using to dig into the hard earth. I imagined him stabbing it over and over again, praying and begging it to bear fruit. I stabbed myself and lay beside him. The moon looked so lovely tonight.

"Goddess Alorie, I curse you in the same way you cursed me, for my husband's sake and for the child in my womb." I gurgled, " You cursed my first breath, now I curse you with my last. I pray to all the gods that your beauty wanes into nothing and your bones become brittle with age. You cursed me before I even took my first breath, what could a child, a baby possibly do to you? I hope your worshippers realize the bitch you are and tear down every temple and statue erected in your honor. I hope they shit and piss on them. I hope…"

I spluttered. My body suddenly felt so warm. My vision was dimming. I reached out, grabbing weakly for my husband. To touch him one last…