Cedar Sweep jewel

it was here that she came to breathe and to remember, and to grieve. molech would not fault her for the tears that fell when eshamun lay alone, nor the shame she felt over her milk-filled teats, swollen and aching to give suck to her dead children. she knew that this malady would pass, but for now she smelled often of sweet things and the salt of her agony. 

in the evening, eshamun departed with a quiet word to whoever was near, moving into the embrace of the fragrant trees. she was quiet in their shadows, calmed by the gentle breeze that whispered though the autumn-touched branches, and for a moment the canaanite found a raw sort of contentment.