Warm, dim candles surrounds the ballroom as tall dark figures dance in a waltz. The band plays a slow somber tune as violins string an ominous sound, Loeti walked past the figures, and as they do, the figures all stop their dancing to turn to them and stare. Searching for their mother and father in the crowd they feel the ever growing tension as they feel a pressure behind them.
“Mama… Papa… where are you?” their voice shakes
“Unruly child!” whispers one of the figures
“I can’t believe our king allowed such a thing to be born!” whispered another
They looked around desperately, running through the mass of lavish people donning white masks.
Tears started to form on their face, as running became more difficult. Their pace slowed, more and more the masked faces surrounded them.
The slowed running stopped at a halt and became sinking as the faces watched behind masks and decorated fans as they were swallowed into a pit
The slowed running stopped at a halt and became sinking as the faces watched behind masks and decorated fans as they were swallowed into a pit
“MAMA!” Tears covered their face as the light vanished and became their room. Green floral wallpaper, and a canopy overhead although dark became slightly visible in the moonlight from the window.
“Mama” They sniffled as the tears and mucus streamed down their cheeks.
At their beckon, a small light crept from the bottom of the door and opened to reveal their mother standing at the door.
“Loeti! Are you alright sweetness?”
Loeti curled into a ball with the blankets, wiping their tears
She lit the candle on Loeti’s nightstand, and placed it down. She adjusted her nightgown and sat on the small bed next to them wrapping her arms around to comfort them.
“What happened, my dear?”
“I-I-i had a b-b-bad dream, and- and I couldn’t find you, or Papa and -and”
Their eyes filled with tears again and the sniffling, fast and staggered
“Shhhh, It’s alright dear, I’m here.” She began to run her hands over their head
Their crying slowed, as they snuggled into their mother’s warm touch
“I’m scared, mama.” They trembled, hiccuping on their words
“It’s okay to be scared. I get scared too.”
They looked up, “You do?”
“All the time, but you know what I do when I’m scared?”
Curiosity overcame their tears “What do you do mama?”
“Yes, it helps you to forget what you were scared about. But, you know what? I think we need Papa to help too.”
She picked up Loeti in their arms, as they relaxed into her touch. She felt their arms grip around their neck as tight as a five year old child can.
The pair entered the candle lit room, Omari in their night clothes waiting on the quilted blanket.
“Is everything alright?” Omari said sitting upright in the bed.
“A bad dream, but we’re going to sing those fears away, right Loeti?”
She sat on the side of the bed as she placed Loeti in between them.
They gave a small nod as they re-relaxed into their mother’s embrace.
“Your special song, right?”
“The market is empty, the butcher's gone home
The candles have spent - soon the light will be gone
Soften your brow, dear, Breath slow and deep
Let your eyes close as you drift off to sleep
The moon in the window, The sun in the sea
Now is the quiet - just baby and me”
Omari placed an arm around Loeti as the timber in his voice smoothed the tension surrounding them.
”And the sun will sleep in the ocean tonight,
And the cool of the water makes everything right
And the ocean once dreamed it could shine high above
But protecting, reflecting the sun is enough.”
Adelina chimed in with her glimmering voice
”We used to go dancing, We used to drink wine
We used to buy flowers and now we buy time
Mommy and daddy would work bear our hands
To make sure you have all you need in this land”
She wiped the tears from Loeti’s eyes, trailing a finger on the from the middle of their brow, to bridge and the tip of their nose.
”The moon in the window, The sun in the sea
Now is the quiet - just baby and me”
They gave out a yawn, struggling to keep their eyes open. Adelina and Omari’s voices joined together in perfect rhythm.
”And the sun will sleep in the ocean tonight
And the cool of the water makes everything right
And the ocean once dreamed it could shine high above
But protecting, reflecting the sun is enough”
Loeti adjusted into their mother’s arms, knees propped up, arms crossed, eyes heavy, finally letting sleep overcome them.
Thank You @dandyseedlings for the commission 💕✨🌼