Author's Note: Well, here we are at the fourth story in the Other Side of Sadness series. Suffice it to say, I didn't imagine how far the series would go - especially not when I began writing the first story. It just kept growing and growing, and now the fourth story has come to fruition. Thanks to everyone who's reviewed, followed, favourited and enjoyed these stories. I am appreciative of your support.
I've opted to go for a series of one-shots of the journey of parenting, warts and all. Hope you enjoy it!
2 a.m.
Love opened her little eyes and looked up at the nursery ceiling. Her tiny stomach growled like an angry bear. Love knew what that meant. It was time to eat.
So, in the only way she knew how to ask for food, she started to cry. Initially soft whimpers, they quickly became loud wails.
The noise reached Fear and Sadness, who had been sleeping quite peacefully in their own bed for the first time since Sadness had delivered the twins.
Husband and wife stirred for a few moments.
"A hungry baby... at 2 in the morning..." mumbled Fear sleepily.
Sadness got out of bed, her body craving sleep, but her heart said otherwise. One of the twins was hungry, and who was she to deny that child food? Her maternal instincts told her to go to the nursery and feed the hungry infant in question.
"Oh, you poor thing," she whispered as she came to Love and Shyness's cribs. She picked up the crying Love and started to feed her. Almost immediately, Love felt at peace.
Fear came into the nursery and smiled. "She's... she's quite fond of you, isn't she?"
Sadness looked at him. "Well, she wasn't named Love for nothing."
When her feed had finished, Sadness burped her and put her, very delicately, into her crib.
"What an angel," Fear whispered. "An angel from heaven... just for us."
"Yes," mused Sadness. "...Just for us."