A child asks about its missing mommy after the battle…
I may have botched this one up.
Those Left Behind
Valentine stood in her black dress, with black shoes, and black socks, even the usually red scrunchie she used to tie her brown hair was replaced with a black one. She didn't really get why except her mama's friend had told her so, and that they were going to say goodbye to mama. She remembered that moment then, when
tata Rae knelt, her normally steady bright blue eyes shining with tears, and hugged her and
tata Rae, strong and serious and sometimes mean, told her with a wavering and strangled voice that her mama was gone. She remembered crying and beating her fists against her
tata and wanting her to go away and hold her tighter at the same time. She remembered being told when her papa was gone, and when mama promised that she wouldn't leave her like papa would.
Mama didn't leave like papa did, but mama still promised she'd stay.
Mama was a liar.
Valentines scrunched up her dress with her hands as she felt her eyes begin to sting. Around her was a large crowd, everyone was all dressed up fancy looking but wearing the same dark and bleak clothing she was except for 7 men and women who stood to the side guns resting on their shoulders. Everyone was so quiet that Valentine wanted to yell or shout or scream to see what happened but
tata Rae, standing tall and proud next to her, stopped her from doing that, her hand clutching Valentines' tightly. She'd been told that it was very important that she be quiet and respectful and so she was, quiet as a grave.
The next moments began to blur, and she felt the stinging in her eyes go away before someone stood on a stage, someone important though she couldn't remember who it was or what they looked like. She remembered the person taking a breath before they said, "We began this journey in humanities darkest hour, with the dying of our homeworld on these arks built by men and women determined not to let it be our last, and as we sailed amongst the stars we knew, each and every one of us, that we carried with us a hope for a brighter future for us, for our children, and for humanity."
"Knowing this we crewed our hope with the best and brightest that the world had to offer, and not once have they failed us, not once have they faltered. They crewed these ships and flew them into the void with a dedication that I could not put into words. Dedication that asks a price higher than most would pay and that some already have."
"I wish I could say we would not need to pay such a price again, that the only end we could face is a peaceful one, but that would be a lie and I would not dishonour the sacrifice of those today and tomorrow with a lie. What I can promise you is I would ensure that those who have paid that price would not have done so in vain, that their memory will be with us, and their strength passed on to the next, and that they are remembered as those who ensured humanity's hope was not wasted. Linkesh Adapa, Richard Atkinsen, Bian Bach, Denis Dubois,…"
On and on the names went, and sometimes, when a name was a spoken a sob would break out and people began to cry. Valentine didn't cry, not until she heard her mama's name.
"… Allison Valois"
Her eyes stayed glued on the coffin in front of her and she felt her hand squeeze her
tata's, her mama usually loud, bright, and cheerful was so quiet. So still. It wasn't right.
Mama should be laughing Valentine thought,
Mama should be singing, she likes to sing and smile and dance with me. And her eyes began to sting again, except this time it was stinging more. Before she could remember to stay quiet and respectful like
tata Rae told her too, with her eyes still glued on Mama's face, Valentine asked quietly "
Tata Rae, why did Mama leave me?"
And Valentine felt her
tata stiffen and she thought that maybe she was in trouble and turned to
tata Rae and noticed she was looking down at her, tears falling freely down her face. She felt her own tears begin to fall and despite scrunching up her face it didn't stop. It wouldn't stop.
As the tears left dark tracks of makeup on her face
tata Rae replied, "
Mou Cherie, because your mama had a job to keep everyone on this ship safe, especially you little Val, your mama wanted to keep you safe the most."
"Then I don't mind not being safe," a
hic left her throat, "Mama can just be here instead." She hicced again, and she hated it, she wanted to say more, maybe Mama wouldn't have gone if she told her not to.
Tata Raes mouth started to frown and Valentine could tell she didn't want it to, and it wasn't an angry frown but a sad one. She opened her mouth to say something before she clapped a hand over it but Valentine could still hear her sob, and her shoulders began to shake and there was nothing left for Valentine to do but look at mama.
The person speaking must have finished say names as they continued.
"… Their names will not be forgotten, they will be etched into our minds, our hearts, our very souls, and be held as an example for the rest of us for their selfless service and stalwart resolve in the face of the unknown. For the fallen, we give you to the stars, we know you shone brighter than they ever have."
The person stepped down, and a soldier stepped forward.
"Company, Attention!"
Valentine heard a clatter as the seven men and women clutched their guns.
"Ready, aim, FIRE!"
She heard the gunshots, but they sounded far away.
"Ready, aim, FIRE!"
So very far away.
"Ready, aim, FIRE!"
And all Valentine felt was numb. It didn't matter what anyone else said, Mama was gone.