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Everything hurt, but all I could think about was my heart. I'd come to love Mykolas. And I thought he loved me first, but now I'm stuck in woods I don't know, with bruises and blood and no one to care for me.
I still didn't even know if my mother was alive. I started crying for her, hoping she was alive, sensing I was, sensing my love for her was alive. I tried whispering apologies, hoping she'd hear them one day.
I hadn't cried like this in so long. It was kind of cathartic.
I remembered her words, that, You were born as a tree. You'll never be lost in a forest.
They stung a little, now, considering my position. I didn't feel much stronger from the words, but picturing my mother's face helped. I needed to get out of here. And then I needed to take my mother far away, so Mykolas would never find us if he decided he wanted to.
But I just wanted to rest a little longer. I hadn't been resting at all. I didn't want to get up.
I shifted around, and eventually I did start to feel more comfortable. The sun warmed me, while the dirt kept me cool. I gently swirled my finger over it, tracing patterns. If I could find water, it'd be almost perfect. A simple stream could even lead me home.
I almost craved food, too. I was hungry, but not so much that I wouldn't normally push past it. But I didn't want to punish myself. My exile felt like punishment enough — more than that, it felt unfair.
I was angry at Mykolas. He'd never let me go hungry, until now. Just because...
I sucked the dirt off my finger, and was pleasantly surprised. I went in for more.
It melted in my mouth like chocolate, but it wasn't so sweet, which I didn't mind.
I almost sobbed again in relief. I wanted to sleep right there. I never wanted to leave.