Chapter 1

Perchance, and perhaps we can all agree this year, well these past couple of years have been truculent, obstreperous, callous. For each of us, the biome we live in has been healthy, yet the sociological ecosystem we've lived in has been destructive. We all feel exhausted. I for one, feel exhausted by it as well. While living in Peach Creek has been fun, it has its qualms and queries every now and again.

Perhaps I didn't introduce myself. My name is Eddward, or Edd. My portmanteau is that of Double D. I feel good by it. Hmm, it's just as well.

As I came into the house, the house I had by myself, I experienced something I hadn't in a long time. That was the efface of peace and quiet. I barely ever get that with the Eds around. I'm what someone would call a millennial, astute, smart, well-versed, the smartest in my year, as I graduated Salutatorian. On that hand, while I am well-versed, I fancy myself as very altruistic as well. It is a sapiential hobby of mine to care for others. No one has been quite as lovely to care for, as my Sailor. Sailor Wilson.

Sailor was a young girl, perhaps 10 years old who had lost her parents, her sister and her cousin in a plane crash. She was a young darling with brown hair, down to her shoulders, a purple shirt, and purple pants. She had a porcelain face, making her appear to be younger than 10. My Sailor, so smart, wise, hardworking, and ethical. She was a trier. She put so much effort forth into everything she wanted to accomplish. She was brave as well….not afraid of anything. I loved taking her in, and indulging her.

Sailor came into the room, drinking her oat milk, as she looked up at me, with pleading wide eyes. Her eyes are brown. Such lovely eyes for a lovely girl.

"Sailor". I said, gently with wise, depth, and silky smooth elegance to my voice, a man's voice, as I addressed her. Sailor looked up, glancing from her milk. "Yes?". She asked. "How are you this afternoon?". "We haven't spoken in some time". I said, kindly. "Is everything alright, turtledove?". I smiled a gentle smile, even with the gap in my teeth. "Honey?". I asked, gently with softness behind my voice. "I'm doing alright". Sailor said, as she held her Oat Milk sippy cup close to her. "You seem a bit tired this afternoon, turtledove". "Did you get enough sleep last night?". I asked, gently. "Kind of". Sailor said, quietly, as she sat on the couch. "I guess…I guess I kind of didn't sleep a lot because….because I keep having nightmares". "I don't know why". "It's weird".

"Hmm, nightmares". "It could be something that might have to do with trauma, or how you feel". "It could be any open-ended thing". I said, gently. "But I have the confidence that you will go on to feel better, my Sailor, my turtledove". "Do you know why that is?". I bent down to her level, smiling kindly. "Why?". Sailor asked. "Because you are beautiful, strong, smart, and so amazing". "And because I love you". I said, gently with kindness as I kissed Sailor's cheeks, gently. "You have the strength of someone I adore, immensely". "Someone who will change the world in her own unique way". "That's what I love about you, is how strong you are, my lovebug". I rubbed Sailor's cheeks, kindly planting a kiss on each one. Sailor smiled as she looked upwards. "Thank you….Edd". Sailor said. I nuzzled my Sailor, kindly.

"How is your Oat Milk, darling?". "Do you like drinking it?". I asked, gently. "It's really good". Sailor replied. "Thank you for making it". "I guess….I really want to repay you, because you've done so much for me". "You have".

"It's truly my pleasure to have you, Sailor". I said, gently. "Don't worry about a thing, this is my treat, you deserve to relax a bit, honey". I smiled a gentle smile, kissing both of Sailor's cheeks again. "I will always love you, my darling beau". I said, kindly. Sailor nodded as she glanced upwards. I knew my Sailor was beginning to feel happy again.

"Would you like to relax on the couch for a bit?". I asked, gently. "I have a blanket, your Oat Milk is in your sippy cup, and there's some fruit I could bring for a healthy snack". "We can see what's on t.v.".

"I can lay down for a while I guess". Sailor mentioned, as she headed in the direction of the couch. I helped my Sailor walk to the couch, as she laid down. Putting a blanket over Sailor, well, a small sheet, I fluffed the pillow a bit, giving her her sippy cup to drink. Sailor drank from her cup, as her head was propped to look at the television. I kissed both of her cheeks, massaging them, gently. "I love you, darling". "I always have, and I always will". I said, kindly. "I love you, too". Sailor said, as she looked at the television. We talked for quite a bit, as the television played.

"How is everything in school going for you?". "I heard you won a few awards recently". I said, gently. I tickled Sailor's feet, gently. "Your grades are good?".

"School is going ok, I guess". Sailor said. "My teacher gave me some awards for attendance, and I won the spelling bee, but I guess…I guess I got some lower grades last 9 weeks because….because of what happened to my family". "I was tired all of the time, I couldn't stay awake, I couldn't concentrate, it was harder".

"It usually is harder for someone who has done so well to be struck with tragedy in that manner". I said, gently. "Generally, if something happens, we tend to find the easier way out, which still can be difficult". "I know it's been difficult on you, but you're still doing well". "I believe you're doing an amazing job, you just need some support and guidance along the way". 'I believe you can do anything you put your mind to". "If you believe you can do it, you certainly can". "And I'm proud of what you've accomplished". "You are someone who will one day, change the world". "The world needs you, it needs what you have brought forth, and one day, you'll find it in what you accomplish for the long road". "You have the tenacity, the wisdom, and the propriety to do it". "You can do anything". "My love for us, the bond we have is superb, and can transcend time". "We can do anything". I smiled a gentle smile, stroking Sailor's forehead. Sailor nodded in agreement. She was beginning to fall asleep. I still stroked my Sailor's forehead, kindly. Her eyes began closing as she turned on her side to fall asleep. I smiled a kind smile, letting her sleep, as I watched t.v. for some of the time. Watching television was scintillating in its sorts. As I watched television, I gazed dreamily upon the face of Sailor. She was such a worker, such effort, and time she placed into her endeavors.

I am a widower. I've been widowed for quite a while, but in that respect, I've only dated one person, a beautiful person who indulges my altruism for our confluence. Her name is Nazz. Nazz Braunsheimer, but she is beautiful, intelligent, good in nature, and wealthy in monetary value as she has a job as a doctor of medicine, and pediatrics.

I loved thinking about Nazz, but even so, now I thought about my Sailor as she slept. She was comforted by dreams, and visions of her family. Sailor was someone with a lot of trauma behind her, yet she dealt with it in the best way possible, which made me dreamy of her, more.

I stroked Sailor's face, gently as Sailor turned in her sleep. Her eyes seemed to flutter a bit as she whimpered a bit, in discomfort. She was having a bad dream. I could tell by the way she clutched her princess blanket, holding it close to her, as she began shaking. I smiled a gentle smile, rubbing little Sailor's back, kindly. "Shh, shh, it's ok". "You're ok, honey". I whispered, gently. Sailor woke up, sniffling as she glanced around. Tears came to her eyes, as she rubbed her eyes, trying her best to hide the crying that was to come. "Sailor". I said, gently. I rubbed her back, gently as she sniffled. "What happened, honey?". "Is everything ok?". I asked, in soft kindness. The depth to my smoker's voice remained. I smiled a kind smile, resting my head on my hand, as I stretched out, the sitting turned into a bit of a lay.

"I'm ok…it was nothing". Sailor said, as she sniffled. She turned her head a bit, shy to answer. I could tell she was emotionally exhausted. "It was nothing….I'm ok….I can do it on my own….thanks for your concern". Sailor said. "Tell me sweetheart, would it be ok if we talked about it?". "I think perhaps talking to my best friend, and my heroine helps me a lot". "Maybe it would help you, too". I said, gently, softly. "Ok". Sailor agreed, as she turned her head. She sat up. "So, what happened, honey?". "Was there just a scary dream that came up?". I asked, kindly, softly. "Yes". Sailor said. Little Sailor was dressed in her little girl pajamas. "What happened in your scary dream?". I asked, gently. "I was with my parents….and a bad thunderstorm came….and then my parents….they were gone….they blew away, and weren't seen again". Sailor said, sniffling.

"I understand you miss mom and dad". I said, softly in a gentle whisper. "Mom and dad were special to you, in so many ways when you were growing up". I brushed the cushion with my hand. "But I think mom and dad are the most special to us when we're infants, and we're getting the milk we need from them at such an early age". I said, in a soft gentleness.

"But you're adopted, you received early nurturing from mom and dad after birth mom passed away". "You and your sister, you both were biologically related, you were adopted after being in foster care for some time, in early infancy". "You received nurturing, love, and kindness from mom and dad when you were just a baby". "Mom used to sing to you, kiss you, read you and Ana stories, and hug you goodnight". "She used to hold you until you fell asleep". I said, softly in a gentle, friendly hum, while brushing the cushion. "That's how you bonded and developed with adoptive mom". "You were so close to adoptive mom even from the beginning, when you were just growing up, and becoming used to the world".

"I'm sorry you had to deal with that trauma of losing adoptive mom, and your family". "I wish there was something I could do to make it all better". "We could talk about it, we could cope with it, but I do know, for a fact, that you are someone who has touched my life in many ways, and given me everything, including hope". "You are my heroine, and my best friend". I said, gently. "I love you, my Sailor".

"Thank you". Sailor said. Sailor sniffled as she glanced upwards. "What's your best memory with your parents, with your sister?". I asked, gently. "Something you remember well about them?".

"I remember my mom and dad taking my sister and I to Arizona for a while, we swam in the pool, we went on the Jeep tours through the desert, we went to the Grand Canyon, we laughed the whole time, we had a lot of fun". "I liked it a lot". Sailor said. "We had a lot of good memories….it's hard to pick one".

"I guess….I remember my sister and I watching movies in our room until my dad came in, tucked us into bed, gave us milk to drink". "We talked about the good things our day had, the bad things, we told each other we loved one another, before going to sleep". "We were close". Sailor said. "I miss my family a lot….I guess…I'm ok, though".

"You're doing a wonderful job…being strong, confident, peaceful, even in this hard time". "You're someone who's made me stronger just by being by my side". "I know we haven't spoken in a while, but it's nice knowing you're doing well". "I see so many good things for you". "You have potential to do anything, my Sailor". "You will one day, change the world with your strength and your intellect". "You are my knightess in shining armor, I'd be lost without you". "Besides, I'll be your king, we can fit so well". "I need you, the way the world needs you". "You are a gift to the world, my darling". I said, gently. "Thank you". Sailor said.

"I'm happy you're here, too". Sailor said, shyly. "I know sometimes life can be hard, but you're triumphing". "You're being the best you can be, and being strong, even in times of doubt". I said, gently. "You're my girl". I smiled a gentle smile.

Sailor looked off to the side for a moment, then back at me. "Do you know what my birth mom was like?". Sailor asked. "Mm, well, your birth mother was someone who looked a lot like you, she was moral, heroic, and loved helping others". "Her husband, your birth father died in combat when she had you and Ana". "She loved having you, she loved giving you the natural milk, and stimulation, the lactation you needed to grow into a healthy newborn". "But unfortunately, birth mother died a few weeks in". "You and Ana were orphaned for a bit, you were both nurtured and loved by caregivers at the Children's Home, before mom and dad adopted you". I explained, gently. "You both were stimulated, loved, cared for, hugged and kissed, luckily". "Mom and dad loved you both so much". "The way I love you so much, bestie". I smiled another kind smile, stroking my Sailor's face, gently. Sailor nodded, as she felt the nurturing.

"I know". Sailor replied. "Being adopted isn't a bad thing by any means". "If anything it's something that we should be proud of". "We were chosen by mom and dad to fulfill their lives in the best possible way we know we can". I said, gently. "You are my treasure, Sailor". "With you, I can do anything I wish to, and one day, you and I will both change the world in our best way possible".

"Thank you". Sailor said. I smiled a gentle smile, seeing Sailor begin to feel much better, less nervous. "I'm trying my best….I really am". Sailor replied. "You're doing so well, I'm proud of the person you've become for me". I said, gently as Sailor and I chuckled. "Love you a copious amount, honey". I said, kindly. "I love you, too". Sailor said.

Sailor held her princess blanket close to her as she glanced around. "I was wishing to share something with you, you might hold interest in". I said, gently. I showed Sailor my calculating instrument. "This is an Astrolabe, an Astrolabe can predict weather patterns based on mathematical formulas, and calculations". I explained, kindly.

"Such as barometric pressure, and wind speed". Sailor stated. "Yes, that is correct". I clarified, gently. "The Astrolabe can use the numbers depicted on the sextant to create predictions based on patterns and formulas". "You were right with it". "It is predictable with you, though". "You're my smart best friend". I said, kindly. Sailor and I chuckled.

"That is nice, it can predict something that fast". "Usually weather patterns take hours to predict". "Hmm, someone in the 1800's was smart". Sailor stated. We both laughed. "Perchance". I said, gently. "Mmm, something like that".

"Can I interest you in more Oat Milk, or some yogurt?". I asked, gently. "No, I'm ok". Sailor said. "I'm kind of tired, actually".

"I'm a bit tired, myself". I said, gently. "I might have a cigarette, to take the edge off". "It helps me fall asleep sometimes, even though nicotine is supposed to have the opposite effect". I smiled, putting my Astrolabe away. "Let's go fill your to-go cup, sweetie". I said, gently. Sailor nodded, walking with me to the kitchen, where I filled the sippy cup with Oat Milk. I mixed some chocolate in the Oat Milk for some flavor.

"I mixed some melatonin in there to help you sleep better". I said, gently. "That, and I knew you were feeling sweet, so I put some chocolate in it as well, for my sugar". I smiled a gentle smile, kissing both of Sailor's cheeks, gently. "Here you are, baby girl". "Some to help you sleep, and dream". "Can I have a hug to make you feel better?". I asked, gently. Sailor nodded, as we hugged. I kissed her cheeks, gently. Sailor went back to the couch, pulling the blanket over her. I smiled a kind smile, kissing her cheeks, kindly. I tucked her underneath the blanket, being sure she was safe inside. She fell asleep, as I massaged her cheeks, kindly, kissing both of them.

Sailor's eyes closed, as she turned on her side. She dreamt as much as she slept. Now, her dreams weren't as bad as she laid calmly, breathing calmly as well. I knew Sailor was in a good place now. She was asleep. How she should've been.