(...continued)
Autumn clutched the items to her chest, trembling violently now, vision blurring as fear surged like floodwater.
Kieran's mother watched her unravel with unblinking fascination.
Like her favourite movie was being played.
Then, as if the moment wasn't cruel enough, she reached again into her gown.
"Oh…before you spiral too far," she said sweetly, "I have another surprise."
Autumn froze.
Her body went rigid.
Her breath hitched.
Her eyes lifted with terror.
The woman gently placed a small silk pouch in Autumn's trembling palm.
Autumn swallowed hard and opened it.
A rough chunk of hair slid into her hand.
Dark.
Coarse.
Familiar colour.
Too familiar.
She stopped breathing.
Her pupils blew wide.
Her fingers curled around the lock tightly, desperately…like the world depended on not letting it fall.
"…noooo…"
Her voice wasn't a whisper anymore but a tremor.
Her eyes shot up, wild, frantic, disbelieving.
