WOLF BOY

Mama's wish

The air was thick with the sound of his anguished cries. "Mama! MamaaAA!!!!!!!!" he screamed, his voice cracking under the weight of his desperation. Loneliness was a cruel and unwelcome visitor, creeping in and filling him with a deep sense of sadness.

He longed for his mother's presence, for the comfort and reassurance that only she could provide. She was the only one who came to mind whenever he sought solace. As an adult, he knew he should be able to handle things on his own, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was still her little boy, in need of her soothing touch and wise counsel.

He implored her to come back to him, to resume their previous relationship. He knew that it was a lot to ask, but he couldn't bear the thought of going through life without her. He begged her to ask God to bring her back, to plead with him until he relented and sent her back to him.

And if she refused, he prayed that God would intervene, to bring her back to him by force if necessary. He was willing to do whatever it took to have her back in his life.

But for now, all he could do was cry out into the void, hoping against hope that his mother would hear him and return to him.

As Callaghan lowered Greta's body to the ground, his gut clench with the weight of the anguish he was swallowing. He couldn't bear to look at her anymore, but he forced himself to shut her eyes with his fingers, wanting to give her some semblance of peace in her final moments.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally pushed himself to his feet stumbled towards the cottage. Inside the cottage, the hardwood floor was rough and uneven, and he almost lost his footing when he stepped on something sharp. He peered into the darkness, trying to make out the shapes of objects littering the floor.

The lamp was out, casting the room in deep shadows. He let his gaze wander, taking in the destruction that had been wrought upon the once-complete cottage. It was as if an angry hand had torn the place apart, leaving nothing but shattered remnants in its wake.

The cottage had once been a small, calm structure, but now it was abandoned and forlorn. The farm items that had once adorned the walls were now mere shadows, indistinguishable in the darkness. But one object caught his eye - a shovel, standing tall against the wall towards the edge of the room.

His mother lay lifeless in the glade, and he couldn't leave her there. The idea of her becoming food for the forest's monsters made his stomach churn. He had to bury her, give her a proper farewell. With a determined stride, he made his way to the farm tools and grabbed the shovel. His muscles tensed as he approached the door, bracing himself for the task ahead.

“Even if it's the last thing I do, I have to bury her,“ he muttered to himself as he stepped out into the cool, misty air. The wet earth yielded under the weight of the shovel as he began to dig. He grunted and groaned with each scoop of dirt, sending it flying into the air. His labored breathing filled the silence of the forest. As he dug, memories of his mother flooded his mind. Her gentle smile, the sound of her laughter, the warmth of her embrace. Finally, after what felt like hours, he tossed the shovel aside and peered into the hole he had dug. His heart heavy as he lifted his mother's body and carefully placed it in the small grave.

He stood there for a few moments, silent and still as if saying a final goodbye. Then, with a heavy heart, he began to fill the hole with dirt. Piece by piece, he covered his mother's body, until it was nothing but a small mound in the ground.

Exhausted from the physical and emotional strain, Callaghan felt heavy and weak. All he wanted was a place to lay his head and find some peace, but he knew his mind wouldn't let him rest. Sleep was the only escape from the unbearable pain of losing his mother. So he sat on the damp ground, feeling the cold water seep through his shorts. He leaned back against the mud and let himself drift off, as silent as the shredded corpses of the werewolves in the nearby glade.

~~~

As he opened his eyes, he found himself staring at his mother's face. He was lying with his head in her lap, and she was stroking his hair like he was a little boy. Overcome with emotion, Callaghan jumped up and embraced his mother tightly before she could even say a word. Her bosom was soft against his chest and the rhythm of her beating heart.

"She's awake!" His inner voice exclaimed jubilantly.

With tears streaming down his face, Callaghan held onto his mother tightly, begging her not to ever leave him again. Greta smiled wryly and cradled his face in her hands, gently wiping away his tears with a finger.

At that moment, nothing could ever compare to the love and warmth he felt from his mother.

Callaghan's heart was pounding so hard like it might burst out of his chest. He had been waiting for what seemed like an eternity, praying that his mother would return to him. And finally, she was here, holding him in her arms, soothing him with her maternal embrace. It was a relief so intense that it was almost painful.

"Never leave me again. Please!!!" he pleaded with his mother, his voice choked with emotion. He was terrified that she might not come back, that he would be left alone forever.

"I didn't want to leave, honey," his mother replied, her voice gentle and soothing. "It was God, as you are aware. He took me because he created me."

Callaghan looked up at his mother, his eyes wide with confusion.

"But he has enabled you to return to me, which implies you won't be returning, doesn't it? Isn't that right, Mom?"

Greta's face tensed, and tears sprang from her eyes, washing a path down to her chin. Callaghan was taken aback by her sudden outpour of emotion. He hated to see her cry.

“Mama no no please don't cry," he stuttered, wiping her tears with his little hands. He looked at his hands and was surprised to see that they were as small and puny as those of a five-year-old kid.

But even as he comforted his mother, Callaghan couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen next. Would she have to leave him again? Would he ever see her again? The uncertainty was almost unbearable.

“Cal”

“Yes, mama!” He replied, his heart sinking as he realized that something was wrong. He could sense the unease in her voice as she spoke to him. She struggled to find the right words to say, but finally, she blurted out the news that he had been dreading.

"I won't be coming back ever again," she said.