TM #164 - What are you waiting for?
Shhhh.
Right now, I'm waiting for Hera to finally fall asleep.
I'll tell you that it wasn't easy getting Sharon's and my duty rotations to work out so that at least one of us would always be here when Hera's awake, but it's worth it. The hours, and unfortunately, sometimes minutes, that I get to spend with my daughter are the best part of my day, every day. It's a bonus on top of that when Sharon and I both get to be here with her, of course, but a dad's got to have some alone time with his little girl, right?
So right now, I'm sitting on our bunk, on the other side of the room from Hera's crib, reading by as dim a light as I can stand. I'll probably end up needing glasses one day like the Old Man, but I can deal with that. Honestly, I'm not even paying attention to the book. Partly because I've read it a dozen times, like I've read every book on this ship a dozen times.
Mostly, though, I'm just listening to her breathe and coo and turn over. I glance over the edge of the crib to watch that dark, unruly mop of curly hair moving just slightly with her breathing. Hera is, in every sense of the word, a miracle, and I there's no way to forget that, not at times like this.
Margaret will be here in half an hour to sit with Hera so I can go on duty. Then, a couple of hours later, Sharon will get back and if things go according to plan, the three of us should be able to get some lunch together. So I guess I'm waiting for that, too.
Between then and now, though, I've got my fingers crossed, and I'm keeping very, very quiet.
Capt. Karl "Helo" Agathon
Battlestar Galactica
306 Words