Chapter 6 - The Inscription of Tears
Julian held the locket tight,
his thumb running over the letters,
C.M.,
Clara Montgomery,
his first love,
his only true wife.
"That locket..."
Julian whispered,
his voice shaking with raw emotion,
looking up at the little girl,
searching her small face,
finding features that looked terrifyingly familiar.
The little girl stopped crying,
sniffling softly,
looking at the kind man,
answering with absolute innocence,
"My mommy gave it to me."
Julian felt a sharp pain in his chest,
like a knife piercing his heart,
making it hard to speak,
making it hard to stand.
"Where did she get it?"
he demanded,
his voice desperate,
clutching the locket like a lifeline,
staring deep into the child's bright blue eyes.
The girl wiped her nose with her sleeve,
not understanding his intensity,
but feeling his deep sorrow,
answering softly,
"She's always had it."
"She told me it was special,"
"she told me it held a secret,"
"a secret about my father."
Julian's breath hitched,
the room around him began to fade,
the noise of the crowd disappeared,
May you like
leaving only the sound of his own heavy heartbeat,
and the words of a child.
