iSuperwoman

Chapter Three: Smallville Years Part III;

Things Change

Laying awake in my bed one cold winter's morning, I enjoyed the warmth under my sheets. My eyes were closed; feeling secure in my room, in this safe place. I loved living in Smallville, and I felt loved by it. Last night, I saw an amazing sunset fade into a wondrous night; each star seemed to shine around a foggy moon. Spencer put his arm around my shoulder, keeping me alittle bit warmer as the icy wind began to blow on my cheeks. Our parents had already gone to bed after kissing us both goodnight.

"Mom," I said one night, my young voice crackling slightly. "What happens when we die?" Her loving auburn eyes looked into mine, and she took my hand.

"Angel, when we die," she softly answered, showing on fear or doubt in her voice. "It's like we fall asleep...but then we fly up. Do you know where we fly to?" Like the naive child I was, I shook my head, knowing I'd get a sweet, careful answer. "When you've been a good girl or boy...when you've lived your dreams and helped other people...we fly to Heaven." Mom told me what heaven was supposed to be like; how it was always warm: like a mother's womb for her child. The skies were always in the form of a sunrise because a bright future was always awaiting those who lived there. Angels, saints, and dreams stand by one another, and we can see God. We're stronger when we're in heaven; we understand things better, and know how to love. I asked what an angel looked like, but I didn't get an answer: not a straight answer. "They're wonderful creatures," she told me, gently stroking my long, thin, light-brown hair, making me smile. "They fly through the clouds and stars...letting us know we're never alone." I liked that thought.

I was only about five when our pet dog died; he was so young. We loved him, played with him every day, kissed him goodnight, hugged him, and let him know how much we cared. However, he still died. It was his heart, they told us. We found him lying on his side in the middle of the living room one morning, and buried him in the backyard that night. I cried. Spencer held me, even though he was crying as well. I learned about death that day; learned how it felt to lose someone precious.

Laying awake under the sheets, I took a second to think about my life; this was peaceful, but...slow. It felt disconnected and uneventful. But it was home. Whether it was during sunrise or sunset, this was where I was, and it was good enough for me.

"Mommy, Daddy," the small, petite little girl cried, standing still in front of her parents, trying not to make eye contact, and holding her best friend, Mister Loving in her hand. "I wanna go to school with Spencer." She was upset; on the verge of tears.

"Oh, Dew Drop," Miranda replied, kneeling down in front of her poor daughter. "You're in the third grade. Once you get into middle school, you and your brother'll both get to go to PCA."

"But that's so long away," Carly replied, her voice starting to crack alittle. "And he'll be in high school, and I won't be able to see him, and we'll only be together one year." With that, the little girl burst into tears, and felt herself being embraced by both of her parents.

"Angel, it's okay," Sheldon promised. "You'll still see Spencer every morning and afternoon...you'll be okay." Years went by, and Carly finally found herself a fifth grader at PCA. Spencer, being a senior at the time, was only able to visit his baby sister on rare occasions, but by this time, the siblings had made other friends...

Zoey, Nicole, Dana, and even a strange little girl named Quinn; they were boarders at the school, and true friends. A redheaded girl named Missy Robinson moved into the district for seventh grade, forming a deep friendship with Carly; originally under the shared fact that their parents' position in the Navy made their lives the subject of sudden, unpredictable changes. The two bonded more and more over the next two years, swearing they'd be best friends forever, somehow. However, after three years, the Shay couple sadly announced to their children that, due to a stationing change, their new Naval base was to be in Seattle, Washington; life in Smallville would come to an end for them all. Carly cried, Spencer kept to himself, and the family found itself struggling to fight a tragedy.

"Dad, I thought we were done moving," Spencer complained to his father one night.

"We don't have a choice," Sheldon answered, showing little emotion. "Your college plans can still be the same; the law schools in Seattle are just as good, if not better than the ones here."

"Dad, I..." the young man began to argue, only to be cut off.

"We don't have a choice with this, son," the man answered. "I'm sorry, but there's nothing else that can be done about it." With that, Sheldon departed from the room, leaving Spencer alone and upset. Soon, Miranda entered the room, her pace slow and careful.

"I'll talk to him, Spencer," the woman said, trying to keep her voice low. "You're the only one who can decide your future." Miranda opened her arms for her son to accept. Spencer let his head rest on his mom's shoulder, his eyes closed.

"I don't wanna leave my friends," Carly sobbed later that night. "It's not fair...why do we have to move again?"

Miranda wiped her daughter's tears away, just as she always did. "It'll be okay, Dew Drop," she promised. "I know it's hard, but they'll understand, and you'll make new friends. Letting go is one of the hardest things you can do, but I know you can do it." Closing her eyes, the young brunette tried to calm herself. Maybe now's the time... Miranda glanced into the barn, where she knew it was. ...But I can't. She's going through enough...

May 2008; Leaning against the fence for one last time; watching the sun set over a sea of flowing crops for one last time, Carly took in a cool summer breath, ran over in her mind what she was losing, and forced herself to cry; forced herself to let her nearly numb emotions out. Yellow hues bleeding into scarlet and orange streams screamed across the sky, turning the world beneath it into a shaded dusk. Above her, above the sky, somewhere in geospace, or beyond, a shooting star crossed the sky, leaving a bright but distant streak behind it. Her brown hair gently flowing past her eyes in the wind, Carly tried to preserve this moment within herself. The thirteen year-old girl felt herself drift away. Bye, Missy, she cried to herself, looking towards the dim stars and dramatic horizon for some source of comfort. Starting high school in a different state would be a nightmare...