Based on a quote
A ghost of a whisper caressed her skin and kissed her hair, a warmth palmed her belly and nudged her temple.
Your prayer received, your plight heard.
The dreams of motherhood, wished.
The horror of solitude, cursed.
The blessing of progeny, may haps.
The sacrifice offered, must.
The words were there like a vivid dream, they echoed around and through her. Her heart pounded to the muted hums of her forbearers. The voice of her grandmother possibly among them, instructing her, advising her, telling her, what to do. What she must do. But the thought alone shook her to the core, the breath in her lungs frozen solid in her panic.
"Anything, I would give. But not him. Without him, all is for naught. Doomed to a half-life, I will be. Ask something else of me, and I will give it."
Her new plea remained unanswered, given the cold disregard. The warmth on her belly left, the sweet caress receded from her skin, and the promises of the whisper abanoned her ears.
A sob escaped her. 'They have determined the price. But it is someone I cannot give away, for I will break myself in two.'
Another sob escaped her before her body grew tired and she curled into herself, until her face touched the cold of the ancient stone beneath her.
She thought she was alone, exiled to her own misery, but a gentle hand touched her by the shoulder and pulled her into a loving hug. Her face felt the roughness of a scratchy beard.
Her moist eyes opened to discover her visitor.
A smile responded to her searching glance. "I gather it didn't work?" He spoke softly, pushing an errant strand of her bright hair from her face before palming her cheek and wiping a lost tear from her reddened skin.
"Non," she confirmed, her eyes averting in shame. "They asked too much."
He lowered his head to hers and skin touched skin. It wasn't a sudden motion. Just an innocent reminder he was there with her.
"Then we'll adopt," he consoled her and rubbed her shoulder lovingly. "There is a child out there praying for a mother. One just like you."