Eira's hand fell across her stomach, gazing beyond the library's gazebo into the angry summer sky. Not a cloud was above her. The gazebo usually had a fanciful fountain working with flowing, rich waters. Now, the well was dried up and hot from the sun's relentless beatings. The drought was taking its tole… She closed her eyes, looking back to the previous night.
Are we doing the right thing? Leaving? Leaving friends behind at a time like this? What about-
"Mommy!"
Eira's eyes flashed open. Her other hand fell over her stomach as she caught her breath, looking over to the five year old Dammon, Nimraph's son.
She looked down to the boy, who was holding a teddy bear and several satchels, packed for the journey. He ran under the gazebo to stand next to her, so small and precious. Eira blinked, he looked so much like Nimraph! The only differences were in his gorgeous blue eyes, and his adorable curly hair. Eira struggled not to frown. Where did those blue eyes and curly hair come from? Nimraph's side? Or the mother's side? Eira felt her own stomach, flat and rigged with bone. What would her and Nimraph's offspring look like? ...
"Mommy!" Dammon looked up at her, admiring Eira as if she was his true mother.
Eira smiled, looking up from her broody spot in the corner, leaning against a pole. "Yes?"
Dammon giggled, "Do you like dark blue or light blue? Daddy wants the best blanket for you!"
Eira scoffed. Nimraph was not letting her pack her own things, doing it all himself. As someone with a method to her madness in terms of packing, she was honestly concerned for the job. Nonetheless, she decided to step back and let him protect her anyway she could. She looked down to Dammon, unwilling to take her small annoyances towards Nimraph out on the boy. She loved the child too much to do that.
"Honestly, it depends on the day. The atmosphere." Eira responded, "On darker, dreary days, a darker blanket fits. On more sun shiny, bright days-"
"-Which one do you want now?"
Eira raised an eyebrow, both amused by Dammon's directness and hurt by his unwillingness to listen. Then again, he was five. Perhaps he simply did not have the attention span to begin with. Eira smirked a little, "Eh, go with the bright one."
Dammon nodded, placing the bags and teddy bear down and taking off to the library again. Eira sighed and turned to look out into the burning sunlight again. Millshaw's once lush, green, hills were now yellow and browning with plant decay. Her own house was visible from library's location atop a tall hill, and the small lake behind her property was drying up. She sighed, thinking back to the gorgeous boy who dashed into the house after his father. Eira closed her eyes. It may be selfish leaving, selfish fleeing with her family and leaving her friends behind. Remembering who she used to be, however, when had she not been selfish?
Eira sighed, opening her eyes. She pressed her hand against her stomach, knowing fully well that her baby was growing inside her. She looked down, leaning against the burning stone pillar of the gazebo. She felt her stomach rumble in hunger, and she knew fully well that she was having to feed two now. She may be being selfish, but she was selfishly fulfilling her duty as a mother for the first time...
Yes. We are doing the right thing...
Once, this yard had been flooded with gorgeous purple flowers. Now, the yard was mostly dirt and clumps of dying grasses. Unable to watch, she pushed herself up to go inside. After a moment of dizziness that came with her pregnancy, she headed inside. Perhaps, to take a nap before they left. It was only a couple days after her father's death, and stress was making her terribly tired…
