Chapter 2: The Exile of Lilith

The journey through the dimensional rift was a whirlwind of emotions for Lilith. With her baby in her arms, she crossed the magical threshold that separated her from the human world. The sensation of being swept along by currents of energy and the fleeting glimpses of different landscapes left her dazed and disoriented. Finally, when her feet touched solid ground, Lilith found herself in an unfamiliar place, far from the safety and splendour of the celestial realm.

She looked around, feeling a mixture of relief and anguish. The war and chaos were behind her, but she had also left behind her beloved husband, Gabriel. A lump formed in her throat as she remembered their last conversation, the moment when he had pulled her through the rift to protect her.

Lilith clung to the baby tightly, feeling tears welling up in her eyes. Sadness and grief gripped her heart, and the devastating reality of Gabriel's death hit her hard. On her finger, the engagement ring, a symbol of their love and promise to each other, shattered into pieces, as if reflecting the fracture in her soul.

She fell to her knees, sobbing silently as the wind blew gently around her. The weight of loss became almost unbearable. Yet, in the midst of her emotional crisis, Lilith felt a flash of determination emerge from deep within her.

She slowly stood up, wiping away her tears and looking forward with renewed determination. Her eyes fell on the reflection of his image in a nearby river, and it was then that she made a drastic but liberating decision. If Gabriel was no more, she would not be a painful reminder of his absence in this human world. She would be free of her angelic bonds and could find the strength to move on.

Resolutely, Lilith spread her wings, beautiful black feathered wings that had been her hallmark in the celestial realm. With a swift and sure movement, she took a knife and, without hesitation, slashed her wings, letting the black feathers fall to the ground. The physical pain faded in comparison to the emotional pain he was enduring.

With pain in her chest and back she looks to the horizon where she sees in the distance a village on a small green hill surrounded by woods. With the warmth of her baby on her chest she begins a walk towards her destination following the riverbed where she had left her wings.

***

The days crawl in a slow and hopeless dance since Gabriel left my side. The world faded into a bleak curtain of sadness, leaving me at the mercy of desolation and loneliness. Every sunrise is a cruel reminder of his absence, an open wound that refuses to heal.

The loss of Gabriel has left an indescribable void in my heart. His warm eyes and loving smile have vanished from my life, replaced by a dark and endless abyss. Tears flood my cheeks with unfathomable melancholy, as I face the stark reality that I will never again feel his touch or hear his voice.

My spirit has weakened and withered, like a flower blackened by hopelessness. I feel sadness consuming me, devouring any trace of happiness that once existed in my being. How do I go on when my world has become a sea of darkness and desolation?

In the midst of my defeat, I find a spark of hope, a glimmer of light in the blackness that surrounds me. My gaze falls on my son, the fruit of our lost love. His eyes reflect the innocence and purity that no longer exists in this world. In his face I find renewed strength, a reason to fight and to survive.

Every time I hold my son in my arms, a fleeting calm comes over me. His small hands clinging to me, his radiant smile despite the sadness around us, remind me that I am his only protector in this merciless world. Through him, I find a strength I thought I had lost.

His presence is a constant reminder of who we once were, of the dreams and hopes we shared with Gabriel. Though my heart is still broken and my spirit is fragile, my son gives me the courage to face each day with courage. Every step I take, I take for him, to give him a better future and an unwavering love.

In the reflection of the river I follow, I see the shades of my own sadness, but I also glimpse the determination born of motherhood. Clipping my wings is no longer a sign of defeat, but a symbol of adaptation and protection. My wings become invisible wings, propelling me forward, strengthening my will to live and care for my child.

Walking towards the small town that lies beyond the horizon but ever closer, the weight of sadness becomes lighter. Though the shadow of loss will always be with me, I know I have a greater purpose. My son, my ray of light in the darkness, will guide me to a new life filled with challenges, but also with love and hope.

***

The small village stood high on a green hillside, surrounded by a blanket of lush forests that seemed to protect it like natural guardians. At the foot of the village flowed a crystal-clear river, its waters whispering quiet melodies and filling the air with their freshness. The landscape was a picturesque canvas, dotted with vibrant colours and a serenity that enveloped every corner.

Rustic wooden houses were scattered in harmony, as if they were born from the ground like trees by the hand of mother nature. Some were adorned with wild flowers climbing up the walls, while others had small gardens filled with herbs and greenery.

The sound of animals grazing and walking freely filled the air, creating a natural symphony that enveloped the atmosphere. Horses trotted in the nearby fields, sheep and goats leapt among the hills, and birdsong adorned the sky with its melody. It was a place where nature and life intertwined in perfect harmony.

Lilith, in a pitifully weakened state after having clipped her wings, reached the top of the hillside, exhausted and on the verge of collapse. With each step, she felt her body grow lighter, but also more fragile. Her vision blurred, and finally, her stamina vanished completely in front of a small, modest-looking house, with smoke rising from a chimney on its roof.

As she reached the door her meagre strength left her, and Lilith collapsed on the ground in front of the door. It was then that a burly old man with a grizzled beard and weather-beaten wrinkles came rushing out at the sound. His tired but compassionate eyes fell on Lilith and her fainting baby whom he shielded with his body, recognising immediately the anguish that enveloped her.

Wasting no time, the man rushed to Lilith's aid, carrying her carefully into her home. The comforting warmth of the fireplace enveloped her, and the man's large, weathered hands settled her into a comfortable place. The gentleness and love with which he treated her was like balm to her wounded soul.

The man's gaze revealed wisdom acquired over the years and a kindness deep in his heart. His face was the testimony of a life full of vicissitudes and tragic experiences. With silver hair and piercing eyes, his face shows the wrinkles of age and the experience accumulated over the years. His bearing is imposing, though slightly stooped due to the weight of the sadness he has carried.

And so, on the threshold of the old man's door, the chapter ended. Lilith, in a state of weakness and faintness, had found an unexpected refuge.