Goodbye
The two giggled softly to each other, a daughter applying makeup to her mother, both sitting on a dark pink bed in a room covered in boy band posters.
"Mommy, you look beautiful" the child grinned, and wiped a stray smudge of lipstick from the corner of Janie's mouth "After I seal this with gloss I'm all done and you can put sparkles in my hair"
"Clean up first, then bring the comb and moisturizer."
Lynn obeyed, quickly picking up the mess that the two of them made. She glanced over once or twice to her mother and tried not to think about the fact that she was soon leaving.
"Mommy can you-"
"Eunice Lynn! Come feel, it's your brother!" Which she did. The little girl put her hand to her Mommy's tummy, and felt the tiny, flutter like kicks.
"Who's going to take care of him?" she asked, her hand still on Janie's belly
"What do you mean?"
"Frankie wants to know who's going to take care of him after he's born."
"I'll be home before then." Lynn seemed to accept that answer, and finished cleaning up.
Janie looked sadly at her daughter, realizing that this would be it for who knows how long. Her daughter meant more to her than anyone, even her friends that were like family to her. The only other family Janie had was her Father, and he was holed away somewhere safe.
"Mommy? I'm ready." The child sat in front of her mother, and chattered happily as Janie brushed the long, dark strands. She chatted about school, boys, girls, makeup, boybands and many other things she didn't care about. Janie listened, this time. She wanted every detail to remember for her time away.
The time passed quickly, and before Lynn knew it, she had several strands of silver thread braided into her hair.
"Get under the covers and I'll tell you a story." She tucked the colorful blanket around her daughter, and began the story, gently stroking the child's hair.
"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess who was forced to live in a distant tower. She was loved by all but an evil sorceress who wanted to take her from the kingdom and teach her darkness."
"Mommy, can you take Cinder with you?" asked Lynn, interrupting the story."She's small enough to hide in your uniform"
"Yes." Janie watched as her child reached under her pillow, and removed a tiny doll made from toothpicks and silver, black, and white thread. "Kiss her for me."
After a quick kiss, the doll went into a uniform pocket and the story continued.
"Each year, on the princesses birthday, an evil monster was sent after her by the sorceress. The princess would defeat it, then return to a lonely life in a tower. One year, she decided that she didn't want to be trapped anymore. No one wanted to help her earn freedom. Not the king, or the queen- not even the handsome prince from a neighboring kingdom. Finally our princess decided to help herself. She crafted a mighty sword and sought out the sorceress.
There was a very large and violent battle, which the sorceress lost. Now that the princess was free everyone expected her to marry the prince who refused to fight for her. The princess said no, then gathered a few belongings before setting out to see the world."
Lynn's eyes were close to closing as Janie finished.
"I'm going to miss you Mommy. Please don't die."
"Remember you're only allowed to see Phoenix, Xander, Sam, or go to Drakes."
"I'm going to help, Mommy."
"Close your eyes, Eunice Lynn."
"Will you sing to me?"
"After you close your eyes."
The child kept her eyes open a sliver, and listened to the old hymn. Her mother was still there, she still felt safe.
Eventually, sleep took over, and she closed her eyes. The next time she opened them, Janie would be gone.