For fanfic50, prompt #50, writer's choice: tears.


Johanna never cries.

Not when she's hungry. Not when she wakes up. Not when she's agitated, lonely, or just petulant. Not ever.

The neighbors are relieved. The other mothers are envious. Lucy and Benjamin are worried. It's normal for babies to cry. Is something wrong with their perfect child?

The only time Johanna cries is when they pass the Thames. Sailors hustling about the docks, river flowing by at its murkily steady pace. Great ships looming overhead with large sails ready to blow nowhere.

And then Johanna bawls.

Lucy and Benjamin should take this as a sign. But they don't.