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Nothing

Jean pointed to a straw basket In it was the soft lavender blanket

Elsa tied off the uot slowly to her feet Weak Shaky She wrapped up the tiny, still baby

As she offered the baby to Jean, tears blurred her vision “A girl,” she said to Jean, who took her with a gentleness that broke Elsa’s heart

Jean kissed the blue forehead “I’m namin’ her Clea, after my mom,” Jean said

A name

The very essence of hope The beginning of an identity, handed down in love Elsa backed away fro Jean whisper into the baby’s blue ear

Outside, Elsa found Loreda pacing

Elsa looked at her daughter, saw the question, and shook her head

“Oh, no,” Loreda said, slu her shoulders

Before Elsa could offer comfort, Loreda turned and disappeared into their tent

Elsa stood there, un into the world on a cruo away

I’ll name her Clea

How had Jean even been able to speak?

Elsa felt tears rise up, overtake her She cried as she hadn’t cried since Rafe left her, cried until there was no moisture left inside of her, until she was as dry as the land they’d left behind