• I breathed my first breath. It was cold compared to the warmth I had left behind. I cried, my mother screamed "Monster! It's a monster!" and I fell silent, staring into eyes filled with fear, hate, confusion, my mothers eyes. She began to weep and held me close. She apologised, said that despite my hideous form she still loved me. What was wrong with my form? There was a knock at the door. Then everything turned to darkness. When it was light again, only my mother was there. She spoke to me softly whilst she fed me.
    "I'm sorry... I'm really sorry. Nobody can know of your existence. I don't know what'd happen to me... to you, if anyone where to find out. You're going to have to be very quiet." Her voice shook as she spoke and I could sense her fear. But I was too young to know why she need be so afraid. Nonetheless, I stayed quiet, for her sake. Whenever there was a knock on the door and someone called her name, Mahna, I was returned to the darkness where I silently waited for the light to return, and for the next six years, that was my life. It wasn't much, but I was content, I only needed my mother and I'm sure, she only needed me. But that all changed...