chapter 5

what have I done!!, did I just sell my own child, oh my goodness, what have I done? " Uriel was walking back and forth with folds on his forehead.

" how will I tell Abigail, were will I even begin explaining to her, ahh why did I have to be put in such a position."

"Uriel!!, come over here and Join us for lunch " called Archibald

He went over there and quietly sat at the end of the table opposite Archibald, for the first time ever Uriel was quiet, it was a very unusual scene, usually he was always the noisy one among everyone else, he always had something to say but today,

Everyone at the table was dead silent.

" I guess the life of the table is dead today " Zakebth finally spoke.

Uriel knew Zakebth was trying to lighten up the mood, but at this point nothing could cheer him up.

he just sold off his daughter after all, and that isn't an easy thing to process.

" did I make the right choice ?" Uriel asked Archibald, with his head down

" of course you did, it may not be the best choice but it was your best option

it was either you sell her or you all end up dead, and that would have been the end of your family lineage.

Archibald had a point, but Uriel couldn't help but still feel guilty about all this,

and worst of all he didn't know how to break this disturbing news to Abigail,. she wanted her daughter to grow up in a manner different from the horrible ways of their city, but now that was utterly impossible, because she will grow up doing those nasty things.

The lines on Uriel's forehead deepened thinking about how his daughters future will be filled with suffering.

" Uriel?, Will you come with us for a drink" Zakebth asked, the men always went for a drink after a hard day's labour.

Today Uriel wanted to get so drunk that he wouldn't be able to remember anything.

drinking always made him feel better, it made him forget about how much he had suffered.

" of course I'll join you, today I need to get as drunk as possible maybe it will erase the guilt I feel "

The men went to the local tavern, they were regular customers, and everyone knew them especially Uriel.

" oh my regulars are here" said beth , the woman who runs the tavern, with a wide smile of excitement.

beth was a nice elderly lady, she was the only woman in this city to run a place like this, it was originally owned by her father and he left it in the name of a trustee, because women were not allowed to own any property or assets. The trustee was nice enough to let her run the place.

" please have a seat, as always your favorite seats are reserved for you. so should I bring the usual sweet wine or would you like to try something new today " she asked.

"today I'll have dry wine please " Uriel said

and everyone looked at him completely shocked.

" you do know that, that wine is very strong right" beth asked

"yes I know, I have had a very rough day today, and I want to forget it all."

" I can tell that your day was rough, you look like you just attended a funeral" beth remarked.

" it's worse than death " he said while drinking

" hmm it sounds serious, but I don't think there could possibly be anything worse than death, but whatever it is don't worry everything will be just fine" she said with a faint smile trying to comfort Uriel.

If only she knew what was going on,

nothing will be fine, nothing is ever fine

when solon has something to do with it.

Uriel drunk so much that anyone could have passed out after the first few drinks, but he did not even seem fazed at all, it was like the guilt and sadness kept sobbing him up, no matter how he drunk.

This was supposed to make him forget but it only made him feel even worse, the guilt weighed on him heavier than before.

"If alcohol won't help me forget nothing will, I'll just go home, and face my wife"

" oh Abigail how will I face you, how will I possibly face you, and tell you that your pride and joy will soon be taken away from you, how " Uriel thought with his head buried in his palms.

when he had arrived at his house, he just stood there starring at the door, thinking about what he will do, or what he will say. this wasn't going to be easy he thought.

he let out a quiet sigh, and opened the door and there she was weaving baskets while humming.

"Ayria must be asleep" he thought.

" oh your home, how was your day dear ?" she asked

Uriel didn't say a word he just stood there, he couldn't even look her in the eyes, the guilt was too much he just couldn't, she seemed to be in a happy mood and he couldn't just ruin her mood with bad news.

" you look troubled, is everything okay "she asked

" I'm fine, just tired is all, I'll go to bed now"

"won't you at least have supper"

" No thank you, I am not hungry "

Uriel went to bed still avoiding eye contact with Abigail.

Early the next morning, Uriel woke with a throbbing headache, but there was only one thought going through his head " how will I tell Abigail ".

he looked at his daughter, she was sound asleep. " she looks so peaceful," he said while caressed her chubby cheeks with his finger. he couldn't help but smile, but the smile instantly faded when he remembered she will soon be taken away. the joy he felt was soon replaced by the feeling of remorse .

apart from the day that he lost his entire family all at once this was the only other time he cried, he just couldn't hold in the tears anymore.

Uriel was so lost in thought that he didn't notice that Abigail was already awake .

" what's wrong Uriel" she asked

Uriel breathed in " you can do this you have to tell her, she has to know what's going, yes you can do this "

"Abigail it's about our daughter "

how quickly she expression changed

" I haven't told what's wrong yet and she is already looking worried "

Her reaction made Uriel rethink telling her what was wrong. but there was not backing out now , he just had to tell her.