a's

me at the door. I stood

She looked sweet-faced and nervous, with da

ly. "My name is Jess.

aside to l

lifted the lid, the smell of warm food filled the room. There was fresh bread, roasted chi

shyly. "Do you n

"I... I would like to change but

changed at once.

en nodded to herself. "There s

all

Wait

minutes later carrying neatly folded d

a smile. "Try these. If they d

nk y

ed slightly. "Y

she

ain compared to the rich things I had seen downstairs. But to m

oftly inside

was

nger quickly took over. The food was warm and tasty. More than once I had to stop because

simple, soft and it fit surprisingly well. Then, because I did not know what

r a little while but not for long. A st

y slept in days. My body was weak. My mind was worn thin. But this felt

rew heavier

sounded dista

d, already movin

moment. The moment I closed my

e dream

in a f

ven beneath my feet. Branches snapped somewhere ahea

running thro

oulder. Her movements were desperate. Fear rolled off her so strongly that I f

the forest behind her, shouting to one another. I could not make out eve

ithout under

of trees and somehow drew the men after her scent. But then, in the next instant, she slipped aw

in her arm

eath

baby wrapped i

d of it stood an old cottage. It was small and lonely beneath the

efully on the doorstep. Then she leaned down and touched the child's f

lose enough to make cold shock rush through me. The shape of her face was the same as mine. Her mouth and eyes were

ered into the

r. Then she looked back down at the baby one last time. Her lips moved. She said som

pped wher

d. Then another. Then she turne

y began

sliced t

awake wit

s clung to my skin. For a few seconds I did not know where I was. The fo

ack into focus. I pressed a

that?" I

e was restless and uneasy.

looked around as if s

felt too real. I had never had a dr

why

was th

she have

er moved do

ght had already started to

side me, a terrible f

had meant

ened me the most. Dreams like that did not come from nowhe

pered softly,

ng. I do not know. But it did not feel lik

voice. "That is impossible. I do

mory, Maya said slowly.

t it, the more confused I became. My head started to hurt, so I presse

spered. "And why did she leave that baby? And why did i

ot answer

of the bed and sat there, trying to calm my breathing. But no matter

I whispered. "I do n

was a sudden kn

fully against my ribs. For a moment I just s

oice from the other side. "A