She didn’t eat right away. Instead, she broke the bread into small pieces and gently fed the baby first whenever the child stirred. Only after the baby was calm did she take a few bites herself. Daniel watched in silence, something heavy forming in his chest. This wasn’t acting. This was survival.
When she finally had enough strength to speak, Daniel asked, “Tell me about your mother.” Nora’s eyes lowered as she answered. “Her name was Elena Blake. She was a seamstress. She worked all her life. She died last winter from illness. Before she passed, she used to tell me she had a brother who became very rich… but forgot about her.”
Daniel felt the ground shift under his feet. Elena. That was his sister’s name. His throat tightened as he asked another question he already feared the answer to. “Did your mother have a birthmark like yours?” Nora nodded slowly. “Yes. Same place. She always covered it with scarves.”
