When She Rose From the Ashes (Natalie and Jensen) novel Chapter 544

**TITLE: HereSelf 544**

**Chapter 544: Holt**

“I’m not very educated, so I can’t come up with a good name for the child. Ms. Stone, would you mind giving him one?”

Beth’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke, her eyes reflecting a mixture of hope and anxiety.

Natalie turned her gaze toward the small child resting beside her, his cherubic face framed by tufts of dark hair. After a brief moment of contemplation, she replied softly, “Let’s call him Holt.”

“Great! Holt is a wonderful name. My son will be called Holt from now on.”

A wave of joy washed over Beth, and the tears that had threatened to spill earlier finally broke free, cascading down her cheeks.

Natalie gently stroked Holt’s head, her fingers brushing against his soft hair. But as she did so, a sense of unease crept into her heart. Something felt off; Holt’s demeanor seemed distant, almost as if he were lost in a different realm.

“Holt, calm down!”

With urgency, Natalie grasped Holt’s small hand, but he appeared to retreat even further into his own world, oblivious to her presence. The brush he clutched in his tiny fingers moved erratically across the paper, tearing through it as if it were nothing more than a mere illusion.

Beth, witnessing her son’s distress, leapt to her feet, her instincts urging her to comfort him, yet a deep-seated fear held her back. “Son, don’t be like this! It’s Mommy! It’s Mommy!”

Her voice cracked with desperation, echoing through the room, but she dared not approach him.

Baron, observing the chaos unfold, couldn’t contain his curiosity any longer. “Has he been like this before?” he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

Beth nodded vigorously, her eyes wide with worry. “Yes, he’s been like this ever since he woke up. He has these episodes intermittently. When one starts, he attacks people indiscriminately and even harms himself. I tried to restrain him before, but the more I held him, the more violently he struggled, even to the point of hurting himself. So, I don’t dare get too close anymore.”

As she spoke, a wave of guilt washed over her. Her son, once so attached to her, so well-behaved and sensible, now seemed like a stranger. The distance between them felt insurmountable, an invisible chasm that she couldn’t cross.

Natalie, absorbing Beth’s words, felt a pang of empathy. She understood the fear that gripped a mother’s heart, and she hesitated to approach Holt too forcefully.

Baron instinctively moved closer to Natalie, worried for her safety, but he halted when he noticed her resolute expression. She shook her head, signaling him to stay back.

In that moment, Natalie was reminded of her own childhood, a time when she had faced similar battles with her own mind.

Taking a deep breath, she reached out and stroked Holt’s head again, this time with more tenderness. She began to hum a lullaby, her voice a soothing balm in the chaos.

“Sleep, sleep, my dear baby, my hands gently rock you. The cradle rocks you to sleep, the night is quiet and the covers are warm…”

Her voice enveloped the room like a soft embrace. She sang slowly, each note laced with compassion, as she patted Holt’s back rhythmically, a gentle reminder of safety.

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