The Little Fairy

TRIGGER WARNING: Ectopic Pregnancy

I heard Sarah and Don talking pretty loudly as I got out of the shower so I stood at the top of the stairs, keeping the shower water running so they thought I was still in there.

"Sarah, you were only supposed to stay a few days. As much as I love you being back home, I don't want you to lose your job just for her."

"Dad, I didn't even like my job! Helping Kreya gives me some sort of assurance that I'm supposed to be doing something bigger and better in this world." I saw her shadow pacing around the living room.

"But you said you wanted to be an accountant for years now." Dons' voice softened.

"I only did so I could provide for you when you got too old to care for the farm because you know both Axel and I don't particularly like getting down in the dirt."

"Why would you think I wanted you to take a career path you hated, just for me." Don, started walking toward the kitchen so I ducked further behind the wall so he couldn't see me.

"Dad you haven't been the same since mom died. I understand trying to keep busy, but how long did you think that was going to work until you got too old to lift milk pails or work the fields?"

"Christ, Sarah Beth. I appreciate your concern, but I'm 50 years old. I still have plenty of time." There was the clanging of pots and pans as Don got ready for Dinner.

"And what if something happens before then, huh?" I could hear the anger rising from deep inside her.

"Would you just drop it?" He slammed a pot on the stove.

I decided to go back to the bathroom and finish getting ready for bed. I didn't know what I could do to alleviate that situation, but it was obviously none of my concern to be getting in the middle of.

Coon was watching me from my bed as I started bulleting on my board of things that I could start with: Quickly rising sea levels due to increasing planet temperatures, effects of Greenhouse emissions on a largely populated area, species extinction from overhunting. A knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts. "Uh, come in," I didn't look away from my bulletin board, trying to see if I could mash ideas together.

"Do you need help?" Sarah slid in, Coon taking a hint and leaving for Don's room.

"I guess I could, I'm not sure where this should go," I showed her Green Energy for the Future.

She hummed, looking over the board. "Maybe here? Next to Localized movements for small business farming?"

I shook my head. "That doesn't fit too well."

"You know what helps get my mind in the right area for focusing? Music!"

"You're going to sit there and play me some music? I don't see a strings or drum." I crossed my arms.

Sarah cackled loudly, leaning on the desk as she tried to catch her breath. "God sometimes I forget how out of touch you are. No, come here." She turned the computer on and loaded up Spotify and input her email address and a password. "This is my liked playlist, I don't have a lot of mellow songs on there so let me find a classical one." She typed into the search bar and clicked on a playlist labeled Chill Study Sesh.

The most beautiful melodies erupted from the computer, I sat back on the bed and let the music enter my ears, enveloping my body with trumpets, violin, and piano. Sarah said it was Beethoven, a classic artist from the 17 and 1800's. I laid on my back and stared up at the ceiling and after a minute, Sarah joined me.

"What are you thinking about?"

"You guys have the most amazing technology. To be able to bring this kind of music at the click of a button." I folded my hands over my chest and closed my eyes.

"Tomorrow I can show you how to play it." I felt her eyes on me.

"You know how to play it?!" I shot up, looking back at her.

"A little bit. There's sheet music that I can teach you how to read." She took a deep sigh. "We have a piano in the back room that dad put away after mom died. She loved to play music, she wanted to go to school for it." I could see her eyes start to glisten over.

"Do you mind if I ask what happened?" I slid so my back was against the wall, so I could look at her.

She was still laying on her back looking at the ceiling. "It was ten years ago." She started. "An unexpected pregnancy. Our parents were so happy and so were we." She wiped a stray tear that fell down her cheek. "But it was ectopic, it attached to her liver. They were too late to remove it and she died from internal bleeding." She took a shaky breath and continued. "I was only 13, so I didn't quite understand that both my mom and the baby were gone, more or less the fact the baby killed her." She nodded, trying to recall every second of the memory.

"I'm so sorry," I put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah, there's nothing they could have done. Our parents found out she was pregnant just 2 days before she died. They hadn't even done an ultrasound or bloodwork yet." She stood up and headed to the door.

"Is there anything I could do to help?" I scooted myself to the edge of the bed, ready to come after her.

"Nah," She rested her hand on the doorknob. "I think I'm just going to go to bed. Goodnight Kreya." She left the room quietly, leaving me and Mozart alone.

I tossed and turned all night, unable to keep my eyes closed for more than 2 minutes. I could feel the depression seeping out of Sarah's room with such an intensity it brought tears to my eyes. I decided to get up and see if I could console her.

I knocked and heard a soft voice from the other side telling me to come in. "Do you need something?" She didn't even sit up as I entered.

"I just wanted to see if there was anything I could do." I slid under her quilt with her, letting her find her way into my arms.

"No, but you being here is comfort enough." She fell asleep quickly in my arms. She was much taller than me, but it felt quite natural to be like this.

Her body softened and her breathing lightened other than a few sniffles here and there. I was able to fall asleep soon after her.