Chapter Sixty-Seven: Silent Woman in White:

She’s changed. My wife doesn’t talk to me anymore. She just wanders around her garden, holding our daughter. She doesn’t interact with the baby. I haven’t had a chance to hold my baby girl. My subjects are creeped out by how she acts. Madonna had no emotion on her face other than a cold little smile. I did this to her? My stupid dropped.

“You’ve kept her here too long,” Judith said. “You have to let her go.” It hurts that she’s right. The love is dead after all. I still care about her, but I don’t think I can make her happy anymore. But I can’t break up the family.

“What will happen to my kids?” I asked.

“We’ll have them taken care of, I promise,” Judith said. I wanted so desperately to believe her.

“Hey Judith,” I said.

“Hm?” she asked.

“There’s something I need you to do for me,” I said.

“What?” Judith asked. I didn’t hesitate to tell her my deepest desire.

Meanwhile, there was still the issue to deal with my wife. I have to try and get my daughter out of her hands. I have tried to talk to her mother, but I get no response. It tears me up inside. Our other children don’t seem to be bothered by this anymore. They see this as some sort of twisted normal. The other day, little Camon looked up at me in my office.

“Is mama out in the garden again today?” he asked. I sighed and lowered my pen.

“Yes,” I said sadly.

“Is something wrong with her?” he asked. I stared at his little face. How could such a simple question be so hard to answer? I sighed and dropped my shoulders.

“I don’t know,” I said. “I don’t even know where to begin.” I looked into his little eyes. I started to see him frowning. Come on. Don’t look at me like that.

“Is there something wanted?” I asked. Camon shook his head. I waved him off.

“If you don’t need me, go run along and play,” I said. At first, he just stood staring at me. I waved him off again.

“Go on,” I said. “Daddy’s really busy right now. Go off and play. Go on. Go!” Camon turned and walked out of my office. I found it hard to focus on work for the rest of the day.

I already gave up on trying to save my family. Every time that I try, it never works. I just end up making it worse. Maybe if I stayed away from my wife for a while, it would make separation much easier. But I still want to hold my daughter. I’ve tried to get my subjects to try and get her away from her mother. They were either crept out by her or she wouldn’t let them get close to her. My worry about my daughter held up my work. Judith couldn’t take watching me like this anymore.

“I’ll go get your daughter,” she said. I looked up at her with big eyes.

“Really? You mean?” I asked. I paused before shifting my eyes back and forth.

“But how?” I asked. Judith patted me on the hand.

“I’ll take care of it,” she said. She got up and walked out of my office. I stared, blinking as the door swung closed behind her. What did she mean by that? My stomach turned as I tried to figure out her meaning. I couldn’t focus on work for the rest of that morning because it.

Moments later, Judith came back to my office with my daughter in her arms. The pen dropped out of my hand.

“You got her?” I asked. Judith walked over to my desk. I stood up and looked down at the little pale baby. A confused look came over my face.

“But how?” I asked.

“Don’t worry about it,” was all Judith said. She turned and walked out of my office. I sank down in my chair with a stunned look on my face. She actually went in and did it. I hoped that my wife was okay. I looked down at my baby girl. She looked so peaceful sleeping in my arms. It was then I realized that I didn’t even know what her name was. Madonna probably didn’t give her one. I’m going have to change that right now. Looking at my daughter’s face there was one name that came to my mind.

“Winami,” I said to myself. Yeah, that will do just fine. Winami was going to be my daughter’s name.