A silent sigh of relief escaped Lyra's lips when she realized that Elara had finally fallen asleep. However, Lyra stayed in her arms; she didn't have the courage to turn around. Elara's embrace was as cozy as it had always been, making her feel fuzzy and treasured. It was confusing, and it made her feel even more miserable.
It was not until late afternoon, as the red and orange hues of the sun seeped through the window, that she could no longer stay awake. Elara was already fast asleep, no doubt with a peaceful expression on her face.
This was the version of Elara she wanted her child to remember. The memory was so ingrained in her mind that she couldn't bear the thought of not passing it down. She wanted to give her child all of Elara's good points and leave out the terrible truth of who she really was. She didn't want to hurt her child with the reality of their situation.
'Your other mother died while you were still in my stomach. But she loved us very much.'
