*Eliza*
The building must have been used as some kind of common space for the people of Abe’s village. It was a wide, open space with several long tables able to seat dozens of people as well as bookshelves lining the walls. There was a single hallway leading away from the common area, and one of the doors was ajar. Light spilled into the darkened hallway as I held Scarlett’s hand and led her forward.
I could feel her hesitation. The air around us was thick and electric. One glance at her face and I knew she was likely going to faint when we reached the room, especially now that childlike laughter was filling the air around us.
The voices of women cut through the chatter as we approached the door. Scarlett paused, digging in her heels.
“I can’t,” she squeaked, looking up at me with wide eyes and a flushed face. “I can’t!”
“Why? He’s your son—”
“He has no idea who I am. He wouldn’t have been told anything about me, Liza. I was never considered his mother. I was just a vessel—”
