I slipped through the cellar window into the abandoned house. The owner had been an elderly doctor who performed illegal abortions in the basement. This basement.

My flashlight illuminated a shelf of Mason jars, each hand-labeled as “Strawberry Jam.” Stefan said they were filled with the liquified remains of aborted babies. He dared me to steal one.

I held a jar up to the light. Something inside bumped against the glass. I screamed.

I left without the jar. I never told anyone what I saw.

But when I close my eyes, I can still see the tiny hand inside.

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