Selma’s eyes followed her six years old son, Nicholas, as he ran down the main square of Beimini, a smile started to grow on her face as he giggled with the other children.
Soon after, Nicholas led a group of children around his age age to the reading classes, while Selma was debating whether she should follow to check on him or to go to her Meeting with Mariah.
She shook her head to clear it, and headed towards Mariah’s preferred spot near to the garden maze at the outskirts of the city.
As she entered the maze, a tearful woman ran past her.
Selma stood to watch the running form of the woman for a few minutes, then she shook her head as to the whole incident and followed inside to the place Mariah was to be found.
When she finally reached the spot, Mariah was speaking in a low voice to three more caretakers.
Selma was worried by the determined and serious expression all four women on their faces, Mariah was usually smiling to everybody, almost all the time.
The three women facing Mariah nodded as she finished what she had to tell them, then started to move out of the spot.
Selma quickly pressed herself between the bushes not to be seen, she didn’t know why she did that, but something urged her to do it.
After some minutes of the departure of the three women, Selma squeezed back to the maze trail and headed towards Mariah.
As she arrived, Mariah was all smiles and kind eyes, just as she expected her to be.
“Hello, Selma.” Mariah signaled to the empty seat beside her. “Please, have a seat.”
“Hello, and thank you.” As Selma sat, Mariah turned towards her.
“I asked you to come because we need to discuss something very important.” Mariah’s smile never wavered, although Selma was not sure that it was a genuine one.
“What is it all about?” Selma adjusted herself to give full attention to Mariah’s words.
“You know that this part of the city is only for pregnant women and children under six, right?”
“Yes, I do know that.”
“Good, this saves the introductions then.” Mariah sighed and nodded. “Your son, Nicholas, turned six a week ago, didn’t he?
“Yes, he did.” Something unknown was eating away at Selma, she didn’t know what it was, but it put her on edge, and her answer might have sounded unnecessarily harsh because of this.
“Well, by the end of this week, Nicholas, and round five hundred other boys and girls have to leave the Beimini.” Mariah paused and looked at Selma, which made Selma to suddenly feel a shiver run through her body. “At least this part of Beimini, as they have to leave for Nafoura.”
Selma was silent, she knew that this day was about to come, she just never considered that she will have to face it so soon.
“The departure would be preceded by the memory wipe ritual for all mothers and children involved.” Mariah reached out and touched softly the arm of Selma. “It helps ease the pain of separation.”
“What if I refused?” Selma answered savagely.
Mariah sighed. “It will not be unprecedented, but then it will harm you more than any other mother.”
“Is that a threat?” Selma stood instantly and faced Mariah.
“It is the simple truth.”
“Alright, I am taking my son out of Beimini then.” Selma started to move.
“You can do that.” Mariah spoke as softly as she did earlier. “But then you have to face your city’s ruler and explain why you came back with a child.”
Selma stopped with her back to Mariah.
“Or, they might just take the child from you, hand him to the purples to teleport him here, and banish you. It happened once or twice in Beimini’s history.” Mariah finished her words and waited.
Selma turned to face her after some moments have passed in silence.
“I have nothing but him, his father was killed before I arrived here.” Selma pleaded with a trembling voice. “I will be left only with the memory of losing his father, please have mercy.”
“All you needed to do is ask.” Mariah touched the hand of the other woman softly as she stood up. “I can ask for a special concoction specially for you to erase the memory of the father, or just the sense of his loss from the oranges.”
Selma nodded resignedly. “And then what?”
“You will have one of two choices, either you live your life normally back with your nation.” Mariah’s eyes suddenly glistened. “In that case you will always be haunted by your loss of memories, and the shadow of doubt of how you lost them.”
“Or?” Selma asked her dejectedly.
“Or you can stay here and become one of the caretakers, live here forever and always care for Beimini and its children.”
“I think I would rather stay. I was happy here.” Tears started to fall down Selma’s cheeks.
“Good, I would like to have you here.” Mariah reached out and pulled the tearful Selma in her embrace. “Hush now, it will be alright.”
Characters from Agartha.
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