"Perhaps it is prudent for me to allow you to rest. This conversation can be carried forward with the morning light."
"I am terrified that if I fall asleep she will suddenly disappear. Am I going mad? This is utter insanity."
"I cannot make any of this disappear. Countless nights when I have heard you screaming out in your sleep I have wished I could mollify your pain."
"I am really getting exhausted," she begins to admit defeat.
"Rest. I will tend to this little sprout."
"I want my mum," she adds in a fragile voice.
"Leave it to me Mildred," Hecate nods in agreement.
Hours pass by and Mildred falls into a deep slumber. Hecate has nearly drifted to sleep whilst holding the newborn infant in Mildred's chair when footsteps jar her back to conscience. Ada materializes in the room before Hecate can intervene. An audible gasp accompanies Ada's entrance into the room. Hecate quickly shushes the headmistress before cautiously joining her at the foot of the bed.
"Hecate please offer a reasonable explanation as to why my eyes deceive me."
"I assure you that they do not, Ada."
"I am at an utter loss for words."
The sun is rising in the sky. Hecate gently caresses the cheek of the tiny infant in her charge.
"Can someone stand in for me this morning? I fear I will not be in class."
"That much is apparent. What is the plan?"
HB shrugs, "One of us must retrieve Julie Hubble."
"I shall go."
In less than five minutes Julie Hubble appears in the flesh, clad in her pajamas. Ada transports her just outside Mildred's door. Ada offers her a weak smile.
"Are you going to offer me an explanation to my abrupt arrival at the academy?"
"Momentarily, Miss Hubble." Ada judiciously enters Mildred's quarters. She nervously chews on her cuticle as she approaches HB.
"I will have the conversation with her, Ada. It is long overdue."
Mildred begins to stir. Her eyes open, and it takes a millisecond to reconcile her unjust reality. Her eyes land upon HB.
"Is my mother here?" She gently shifts into a sitting position.
"Indeed." Ada confirms.
"It is a conversation only I can have."
They nod in agreement, "We will afford you privacy."
The trio of them disappear from the room, and transfer into Ada's office.
"Mum, please come in," Mildred calls out.
Julie enters the room, securing the door behind her. She rushes to her daughter's side.
"Miss Cackle appeared at the foot of my bed this morning announcing I needed to join her at the academy. I have been considering every possible worst case scenario since. Are you okay?"
"Have a seat," she motions.
Julie reluctantly parks herself next to the bed. She holds Mildred's hand in hers, and gently rubs concentric circles around the back of her hand.
"I am admittedly not okay. I am quite possibly the further distance from okay that I have ever been. At the beginning of the year I had a gnarly accident. At least that is what I tried to convince everyone."
"You're scaring me, Millie."
"The bitter, harsh reality is that I did not trip over a branch in the woods. I was viciously attacked by someone bent on revenge. Their goal was to make my life every bit as miserable as their own."
"What do you mean by attacked, Mildred?"
She feels herself begin to hyperventilate.
"Mildred?"
She offers a heavy exhale. "I was hit in the head, and knocked to the ground. While this person had malicious intent they pinned me to the ground…" she stops abruptly as the tears stream down her face.
"What are you saying to me?"
"Unbeknownst to me Agatha Cackles had a daughter. Her daughter was placed for adoption as an infant, and went on to lead a relatively normal life until her untimely death. Agatha was the only living relative able to take in her son, Adonis. He holds me responsible for the death of Agatha."
"Mildred that was no one's fault but her own."
"Only hate lives in his heart."
"Mildred I am really struggling to understand what I am doing here now."
"I hid the truth about being utterly violated from everyone. I decided to be the best pupil, and witch possible to compensate for the gaping whole inside my soul. Eventually I told Miss Hardbroom, but I couldn't bear to tell anyone else. She implored me to tell you the truth. I simply could not."
"That was months and months ago. What has changed?"
"Miss Hardbroom?" Mildred calls.
In an instant HB appears. This time her hair is immaculately secured, and she has donned her typical witch-y attire. Amid the navy ensemble is a small bundle wrapped in a grey fleece blanket. Julie's heart nearly stops as she tries to wrap her head around the scene. Mildred subtly nods to HB. She passes the newborn off to Julie's waiting arms. In an instant HB disappears from the room. Julie takes one look at the newborn and begins to cry.
"Mildred why didn't someone tell me?"
"I didn't tell anyone. I desperately hoped I was utterly misguided in my beliefs."
"My support for you is unwavering. There is not a single thing in this world you could do to alter that, Mildred."
"I hope that you truly mean that because the road ahead is not an easy one."
"Mildred I'm your mother. I will do whatever is necessary to sort this mess out."
Her lips trembles as she responds, "What if I haven't a clue what that is?"
Julie scrutinizes the fussy newborn in her arms. She quietly comforts her as she rubs her tiny head. Her glance shifts to her own daughter.
"You are so brave."
"I don't feel it."
"You look so tired. All of this weight you've been carrying, you don't need to shoulder the burden alone."
"I don't know how to do this. I certainly do not know what I want. All I am certain of is that I must keep her safe."
Julie momentarily caresses Mildred's cheek. "You rest. I'll hang onto this little one while you do."
"Her name is Joy."