Long Way Home
Chapter 15
[Day 23 of 45]
It was late as the Comm. went off. Jim sighed, standing up.
"Kirk here," she said into it.
"We have a long distance Comm. coming through for you, marked personal," A voice said. "Would you like us to transfer it to the commanders quarters?"
"Yes, thank you," she told the Lieutenant. Then she moved to sit in front of the screen. Her hair was a mess, she had bags under her eyes, but it was early. She'd been in bed. They would have to deal – she was too tired to deal with this.
The screen came to life and she saw a woman there – the twins teacher.
"I'm sorry Jim. Amanda is restless and keeping the other girls awake. I couldn't think of whatelse to do. I got permission from the Admiralty to contact you for this," the teacher said.
"Where is she?" Jim asked and little Mandy bounced on a bed in a room as the portable screen was moved to the room. There was a total of five girls in that room. Providence and Joanna were on the bed with Mandy, giggling. Two other girls were there and they didn't look happy with them but didn't appear to want to say anything.
"Mommy," Mandy squeaked as she saw the screen.
"Hi Jim," Joanna said with a little wave.
"Evening," Providence said politely.
"Why aren't you three asleep?" Jim asked, in mother mode.
"Not tired…" Mandy said and the other two heads bobbed in agreement. She wanted to groan at those three. Where Mandy went they followed. Without the brain they were all doomed. There was Mandy the leader, Joanna the Voice, Providence the bronze, but Jory was the rational one, the thinker.
"Crawl into bed you three… I'll sing you a lullaby," Jim said though she knew she'd regret it. Mandy beamed and she watched them crawl into bed. As she did she remembered one of Mandy's favorite songs. She no longer needed music to know the tune and the words.
"I wanna leave my footprints on the sands of time, know there was something that, and something that I left behind," She sang, her voice was powerful but soft and she knew it. This was a talent she'd learned she'd had only after the twins were born. Before them she'd never been motivated to try and sing.
She had a view of all three girls and saw Mandy's eyes droop while Providence yawned. Joanna snuggled into her bed with a teddy bear.
"When I leave this world, I'll leave no regrets, leave something to remember so they won't forget I was here. I lived, I loved. I was here. I did, I've done, everything that I wanted and It was more than I thought it would be. I will leave my mark so everyone will know I was here," she sang. Mandy was the only one still fighting. She was always the one who resisted sleep as long as she could. She waited a five count before she began to sing again. "I want to say I lived each day, until I die, and know that I meant something in somebody's life. The hearts I have touched, will be the proof that I leave, that I made a difference and this world will see I was here, I lived, I loved. I was here. I did, I've done everything that I wanted and it was more than I thought it would be I will leave my mark so everyone will know I was here." Everything felt right at that moment even as she knew the strong got stronger.
"Just want them to know that I gave my all, did my best. Brought someone to happiness, left this world a little better just because, I was here," she sang, her voice taking a deeper edge. "I was here! I was here, I lived, I loved. I was here. I did, I've done, everything that I wanted and it was more than I thought it would be. I will leave my mark so everyone will know. I was here. I lived I loved. I was here. I did… I was here… I lived… I loved… I did… I've Done…" Then she softened her voice for that final line and saw Mandy was asleep. "I was here."
There was a pause as the screen was moved to the hallway and she heard the door closed. The teacher's face came into view of the screen then. "Thank you, Jim, all five girls are asleep now," the teacher said and Jim smiled at her.
"It's not a problem," Jim told her honestly. After saying goodbyes she turned to see her husband standing in the doorway.
"I do not recall you mentioning you had musical abilities," he told her and she shrugged at him.
"I didn't know back then. It wasn't until after I had the twins that I realized I could sing. But I only sing for them," she told him honestly. He shook his head at her.
"You are very talented," he told her and she felt a blush on her cheeks. His hand wrapped in hers before he lead her away back to their room. She laid down, arms around him and head on his chest. One of their hands intertwined and she felt comfortable. She fell back to sleep easily.