our community' s leader, on the

n't de

ers drag me to the cent

ne for our past. A pa

n post. The crowd murmured, t

unreadable, as one of the elders

your soul, Sarah," the el

oss my back. I cried o

r. The pain was immense, a fi

first, then larger ones. They hit my legs, my arms, my h

red meals and prayers with, threw stones

hey left me there,

barn. They threw me onto the hay-covered floor like a sack of

ring, my body a map of pain.

n wall, I saw Elijah walk pa

medicine in his hand. I knew that medicine. He h

For Leah's

voice soft. "He'll be fine now

he barn. He stood over me, a s

he said, his voice flat. "

left without

was going

, her face etched with fear and pity. She crept in silen

uch gentle. She gave me a pie

, looking at the door. "But

ved my