Light and Shadow
In the slums of a buzzling city called Alkos, near the brothel and night markets,
A blonde haired woman about to give birth can be seen laying down on the cobblestone ground. Her eyes teary and her voice coarse as she musters all her remaining strength just to say "help.." but no sound comes out.
The soon to be mother is malnourished and is covered with fresh bloodied wounds. People come and go without even batting an eye seeing the blonde woman, to them she's just the everyday slave and "damaged goods" they see every time they enter the slums.
However there are a few who show signs of pity but choose to ignore her fearing they might anger the owner of the slave. This world is a dog eat dog world, if you're weak, you get swallowed whole.
The woman's eyes contort as she pants heavily wanting to give birth. In her mind, the baby's better off dying on the streets than to let him/her live as a slave forced to sell their bodies and die a horrible death
The blonde woman pushed hard and ended up giving birth to a small, pale dark haired baby boy.
Wanting to end her baby's life quickly, she immediately grabbed a rock to use it to kill the baby but when she saw her baby, she started crying heavily because the baby instinctively grabbed her hand and started crying.
The blonde haired woman called Helen decided on raising her baby which she named William because she saw the light of hope in the baby's eyes.
After resting for a few hours, she stood up while holding the baby gently and eventually started limping towards the brothel house she belonged to.
On that day, Helen promised to herself that no matter what happens to her, she'll make sure William becomes a commoner and leave the slums.
As soon as Helen enters the brothel, a woman dressed in provocative manner confronts her and immediately talks to Helen.
"Where did you go Helen?! You've been gone for almost 3 hours already! I had to take 2 of your customers during that ti…"
But before Sara could finish her sentence, she saw a baby cradled in Helen's arms and was shocked.
Noticing Sara's shocked expression, Helen tells Sara.
"I'm sorry Sara, I just gave birth as you can see. If possible I'd like to rest for a little while in the slave quarters."
Sara replies.
"Alright Helen, just rest. You don't owe me anything"
Helen replies.
"Thank you Sara…"
As soon as Sara enters the Slave quarters, multiple women and kids can be seen cleaning and gossiping.
Some of the women notices Helen and they assist her immediatley. The kids stare curiosly as to what Helen was holding. The other women already knew what Helen was carrying but did not want to take a baby from the mother fearing it might cry and disturb those who are sick and easily irritated.
A brown haired woman called Rita tells the others
"Make way everyone. Give me 1 damp and 1 dry clean cloth, `bucket of water, a hot iron knife and a pair of scissors"
After saying that, the other women and kids immediately start finding the things Rita requested for. Rita then comforts Helen that after cutting the umbilical cord, she can finally rest.
After everyone gathered the items Rita requested, She along with a few other women starts performing the surgery while some of the mothers watch, the kids had been told by their mother to keep their eyes covered and don't peak.
As the day ends, an exhausted woman who just gave birth is now seen smiling surrounded by other women who are also in a happy mood in the slave quarters.
Some of the women also have kids of their own. Similar to Helen, some of them also contemplated on whether to kill their children, while some chose to give birth, others decided to kill theirs. The women who killed their babies before or after giving birth where wearing a sad expression but to them, it was the right choice.
Just Like this the night deepens, and the bright silver moon becomes visible…
5 years pass by quickly…