Rise of a Warlock Ch 1 (Patreon)

I was walking through the dark, lonely streets of London. I stood next to the curb, uncertain of how long I'd been walking. "How could he leave me? How could he leave our child?" Dark thoughts ran through my mind. My husband had left me for another woman.

Was this all our love amounted to?

"No, he never loved me. It was I who foolishly thought it could all work," morbid thoughts continued to swirl.Grrr... I was hungry. When was the last time I ate? Was it yesterday or the day before?

I was so lost, so alone, so scared, so tired.The streets were desolate. Cars were parked alongside the curbs, and street lamps cast elongated shadows across the pavement. The trees swayed in the still wind. The sky was dark, with no sign of the moon.

Then I looked up and saw a window across the lane, brightly lit and partly hidden by curtains. They could not hide the joy within the house. Inside, a family of three: a handsome young man, a woman, and a baby. They looked so happy, so content.I looked down at my bulging belly. "It won't be long now, little one."

I kept walking, but suddenly, it all came crashing down. My water broke. I knew the baby was coming.

My baby boy was being born.

Ugh! I couldn't stop myself from crying out in pain. It was like nothing I had ever experienced. My legs buckled beneath me, unable to support me through the agony. All I could think was, "How am I going to give birth?"

It was nearing midnight. I was alone in the streets with no one to help. My mind started to blank out, then I heard a distant voice filled with concern and a hint of fear. "Ma'am, are you alright?"I looked up and saw the young man and his wife approaching me. Relief washed over me knowing I had help. His voice reminded me of my husband, and my mind began to fail. It was all a haze, the voices distant and troubled. Was it wood or wool?

"I don't know!" The pain was intense.

I felt myself being carried and laid on a bed. The pain in my abdomen increased. I forced myself to push as hard as I could. I was tired, but I had to do it for my child.After some time, I heard the cry of an infant. Oh, it was beautiful, so wonderful.Tears of pain, joy, and sorrow streamed down my cheeks. I knew I would not make it. My life had been a sad and difficult one, I was born into a family filled with madness and abused by those I loved. The betrayal I felt when my beloved husband left... all because of the heritage I loathed. And now, I was dying after giving birth."No, my child... I must at least give him a name." I mustered all of my remaining strength to open my eyes. I saw a simple room with three people: the couple who had helped me and a woman in her mid-fifties carrying a bundle wrapped in a white sheet—my son. I looked into her eyes and rasped out my last words,

"Tom Marvolo Riddle."