“Anders, you have to get out,” Helga all but shouts at him. “You cannot be in here. MANI cannot be in here.”
He looks at me and I can see his heart breaking before he nods once. He hands Mani to Helga and comes to where I’m laid on the hay where the mothers give birth, but I am not.
“I am so sorry, Ost Minn,” he says softly, kissing my cheek. “I never wanted this for you. I wanted to give you a nice life.”
I nod, unsure what to really say to him. I’m hurt and I’m angry and now, I’m probably dying.
With a final kiss, Anders reluctantly stands and takes Mani out. Helga comes over with cloths, sitting down next to me.
“Please don’t tell anyone about his curse,” I plead. “Mani will need him when I’m gone.”
“You will not be dying today, Eleanor,” she tells me firmly. “Let me g
