Mama gave a strangled cry, tears welling into her eyes. I knew instantly I had said something wrong, but I did not understand what.
"But Father loves you," I said, trying to make things better. Mama began to weep. I looked to Father. "You do love Mama? Don't you Father?"
"You know I do," Father reached across the table to take Mama's hand. "Asherah?"
Mama's sobs grew louder, her entire body shuddering with grief even though I could not understand what I had said that was so terrible. An overwhelming feeling filled the air, as though somebody had just sat down on my chest and ripped out my heart. I hyperventilated, flapping my wings in panic as I realized I could not breathe.
"Asherah!" Father shouted. "You must stop!"
It felt as though my heart were broken. A great aching void into wh
