-Chapter 16-
160 years and 3 months before the Collapse
Wind blew dead leaves across waylit cobble streets, shaking the naked branches of once vibrant trees and playing with the flaps of Graham’s coat. He ducked into the door of his apartment and stomped up the brick-enclosed, creaky wooden stairs. Jaylen sat at the dining room table, slouched over paperwork. Ever so often, she glanced at the slightly ajar nursery door.
“Has she settled in yet?” Graham asked, hanging his hat in the entryway. Jaylen sighed, “Only for a few minutes at a time. You know how she is when she needs the respirator, she hates the thing. She’s always trying to get it off.”
“You mean the only thing keeping her alive?” Graham snarked, “That’s… smart.”
Jaylen rolled her eyes and returned to her paperwork. “She’s only eighteen months old, Graham. She doesn’t know any better.” Graham took a seat across from his wife, noting her disheveled hair and baggy eyes.
“Long day at work?”
“Well,” Jaylen grumbled, “more pay equals more work.” A muffled cry set off in the nursery. “Oh no,” Jaylen said with a concerned frown, “there she goes again.” She reached across the table and grasped Graham’s hand.
“Will you help me?” She gave her best puppy-dog eyes. Graham sighed.
“You know that’s not my area.” Jaylen circled around the table and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“You could sing her your lullaby.”
“Come on, Jaylen. If anything, it will only keep her from going to sleep.”
“She will like it at least.”
“She’s one year old. She doesn’t even know what a lullaby is.”
Jaylen rubbed his shoulders, “Pleeease?”
Graham pondered for a second, “Only if you sing with me.”
“Graham…” Jaylen pouted. Graham pouted back.
“Fine,” Jaylen said.
Graham retrieved his instrument from his studio and followed Jaylen into the nursery, where Kia lay bundled up in her bed, a clear rubber respirator strapped to her face. Her curly mop of brown hair draped over her pillow, and her small face crinkled as she cried. Graham sat on the ground, tuning his instrument, while Jaylen put a hand on the crib and gently rocked it back and forth. Kia’s whines lessened under the soft, wandering tones, but she did not relax.
“What should we sing?” Graham asked. Jaylen gave him a look.
“Do you have to ask?” she said, “You did write her a lullaby.”
“Woah, now. that one isn’t quite ready yet.” It was true. He had been writing it as a surprise for Jaylen before she overheard him practicing, and he was still working out some of the lyrics.
“It’s not a performance, Graham.”
“Alright,” Graham held up his hands in surrender, “but you better sing.”
Graham struck a chord and started to sing.
“I’ll stay with you
Waiting for you,
Until you wake again.”
Jaylen sang along softly with Graham’s voice.
“And though I see you daily,
I’ll still miss you dearly,
So here I am, waiting for you”
“Darling, the night is drawing nearer,
the darkness dawning,
So here I am
Come take my hand”
“And though I see you daily, I’ll still,
sing a story
To you softly
Till sleep takes your dreams… and say,”
“I’ll stay with you
Waiting for you,
Until you wake again.”
When Graham plucked the final keys, he heard Kia’s light snores, and Jaylen gave him a smile.
“See?” she said.
“Shut up,” Graham teased.