Father

[Hyacinth]

[Thirteen Years Ago]

"What are you making, Cindy," my father smiles, giving me a warm hug as he watches me sew a very small pair of shoes with delicate stitches.

Beaming up with him I smiled. "These are for baby Hawk," I held up the tiny little blue booties. "Do you think Mom will like them?"

He pulls me into a deep hug, "Of course she will, Cindy. Although you still have 6 months until you'll meet your new baby brother. Are you sure you want to..."

There is a knock on the door. My father kisses the top of my forehead as he answers it. A firm but sad voice speaks from the other side of the door. He isn't speaking loudly, but the Gamma's voice carries and I hear every word.

"Delta James, there has been an accident. I am so sorry, but the Beta, she's..."

He couldn't say the rest, and he didn't need to. My father knew.

Holding the little booties to my chest I cried myself to sleep that night. I would never see my mother again, never hear her voice or feel her touch.

My