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“He wouldn’t have disappeared like that, Lucius. I know it.”
“How can you be sure?”
“He told me he would never leave my s-side…” Her voice cracks. “Something must have h-happened to Jaffar. It's been weeks since he told me he was going to the market. I don't know. Maybe he left me to protect me, but... I just have a terrible feeling.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to look for him.”
“Nino, are you mad? You have no idea where he is - if he is. The bounty hunters could have found him already, and there's a bounty on you, too. It’s dangerous to go by yourself, what with the state of the world right now. And you have two little boys to raise!”
“Have you forgotten what I’ve already lived through, Lucius? I watched my mother die, grew up with that horrible Sonia, and fought in that war.”
“So, you would make your sons suffer the same fate.”
“They aren’t old enough to fight, you’re a much nicer person than Sonia, and I’m coming back alive. With Jaffar. I know he's out there somewhere... I can feel it. I just need you to look after my sons until I do, okay?”
“Nino…”
“I don't want to leave them, either, but I trust you to take care of them for me. I’ll be back for them. I promise.”
He sighs. “Then I promise to ensure that no harm comes to your twins.”
“Thank you, Lucius.” She turns to my brother and I. “I’m leaving for a little while to go find Daddy, okay? I promise I’ll be back.”
“Mama, don’t leave!” My brother tugs on her skirt and starts to cry. “No, Mama! No!”
“Oh, Lugh…” She kneels next to him and hands him her Elfire tome. “Here, keep this with you. That way, you’ll have something to remind you of me while I’m gone, okay?”
“Mama!!” He drops the tome and grabs onto her leg. “Mama, stay!” I realize that I am crying, too.
“Raigh, here.” My mother takes off her purple cape and wraps it around my shoulders. “You always loved playing with this, right? Have this.”
“Mommy… why?”
“I have to find Daddy. I’ll bring him back with me. I promise.” She kisses me on the forehead and then does the same to my brother. “I love you both so much. And I’ll be back to get you someday. I promise.”
Then my mother starts to walk away, and she's crying her final thank-yous and goodbyes, and she moves farther and farther from the orphanage until I can’t see her anymore, and it’s a blur of crying, kicking, and screaming as Lucius drags my brother and I inside.
And then I wake up.
She never came back. She was never heard from again. It's almost like she never existed. But nine years later, I still have that nightmare of a dream.