Aislinn

After Tiona leaves, I make certain I am the next one to go. I quite simply can’t afford to be one of the last girls and take the leftover men. I let Dunla ring her bell and then I walk towards the path. This is now the 7th time walk this path and I really hope it is the last one.

The first two times were for fun, and on one of them I got caught by Kenric. Sure, he was only 34 back then. But I was only 18 when he caught me. Back then I was still afraid of getting pregnant. Imagine that. Then on my 3rd time I was supposed to meet up with Kanin, but the idiot caught his sister instead. And impregnated her too! Then I was so foolish as to try and steal him away from her. I should have accepted he was out of my reach. Ever since then I’ve been trying to get a father for my little girl. Yet no matter how many times I take in a man’s sperm on Samhain, the seed just doesn’t take root. I will just have to try again this year. Hopefully, the ancestors of past generations will forgive me for my mistake. I am even willing to atone by reincarnating one of you and raise you together with my future husband. Whomever he might be. So please.

As I go past the two torches and enter the path, I look ahead and don’t notice Tiona anywhere. Not in front of me, nor to the left or right. She could have strayed, or she could have moved along the path. Whatever her choice, it is none of my business. I am just here to have a baby. I just have to decide which direction to stray.