Chapter Text
You stare down at the child laying on your bed.
She's staring at the shadows in the far corner, brow furrowed.
It pounds into your brain that a baby shouldn't look this this.
Tense. Scared.
No. No. Something was wrong.
Rose wasn't sleeping.
She was up.
Staring.
Into corners, wherever shadows lurked.
You tried to flood the house with light, but there was always a shadow for her to find.
You're startled out of your thoughts when she begins to cry, tears pooling in her eyes.
Setting down the martini glass you had been sipping out of you lift up the crying babe, holding her close.
The shadows in the corner writhe and you find yourself staring them down.
Watching while they slowly begin to still.
To dissolve.
Rose's tears do not dissolve.
You try to shoosh her, rubbing her back, but it doesn't work.
Despairing you set down the crying babe and wobble over to a corner of the room where your precious violin stood.
Picking it up you smiled, fingers running along the strings.
Rose's wailing picked up then and you moved back,
Beginning to play.
The wails slowly begin to slow the more you play and after a little while you open your mouth to sing, hoping fiercely that you still had control of your voice.
"Shadows in the corners, Shadows on the walls, Shadows everywhere.
They creep and they, but don't worry, Mommy's always here.
Don't listen to their whispers, turn away from their cold grip."
You don't know why you're singing this.
You don't even know where it came from.
But it feels good.
"Look to the light, let it's warmth embrace you.
Nothing will get you.
Nothing will harm you.
Not a single hair on your head."
Rose is staring, blinking.
Entranced.
"Mommy's always here,
To protect you.
I'll hold you tight,
Fight with all my might.
There's no need to fear."
You set down your violin, picking up Rose.
In circles you move, dancing.
Swaying.
"I'm here, don't worry.
I'll be the light when darkness falls,
The beacon you can always run to.."
Her eyes were shut now,
Her breathing slowed.
"I know I'm not perfect..
I don't know a Mother's Duty.."
You stop swaying,
Moving to your bed.
Once there you lay down, holding Rose close.
"I drink, I know I do..
But don't think I don't love you..
You're my light,
The angel I always needed.."
There are tears dripping down your cheeks but you ignore them, staring down at your sleeping child.
"I love you Rosie.."
You fall asleep holding onto her,
Wishing good things into her dreams.