Day 736

I woke from a deep and dreamless sleep with a start. I hadn't felt this rested since Megan was born. I looked at the clock, just after 2 AM. I hadn't slept this many hours in a row since Megan was born either. I could hear… something… but it wasn't her wails I could hear, and that sound was what had woken me.

In the twilight's gentle glow, where dreams begin to weave,

A lullaby of elements, a cradle for your dreams.

Close your eyes, my precious one, under stars so bright,

As we dance through the periodic table tonight.

Megan was a delight when the sun was out, bright-eyed, happy, and even napped well twice a day, but at night nothing would soothe her. Except apparently this ethereal melody that was floating into my room.

Hydrogen whispers softly, a breath of cosmic grace,

Helium balloons lifting, taking you to space.

Lithium's lullaby, a tranquil, calming stream,

Elements in harmony, a celestial dream.

Intrigued by this mystery, I climbed out of my cozy bed, bidding farewell to sleep for the time being. I shrugged into my robe and tied the belt around my waist as I slid my feet into slippers.

Beryllium's gentle breeze, like a caress so light,

Boron paints the sky, with hues of soft twilight.

Carbon forms the bedrock, where dreams find their repose,

Nurturing the seeds of dreams, as the night silently flows.

Walking down the hallway toward her nursery, the sound grew louder, more distinct. In my half-awake, sleep-deprived state, I finally started to recognize words, and even more remarkably, the voice singing them.

Oxygen, a gentle embrace, in every breath you take,

Fluorine sparkles, like stars in a crystal lake.

Neon lights the way, a beacon in the night,

Elements serenade you, in the soft moonlight.

Walter was… singing? I must still be asleep. It must be a dream, but still, I continued toward the sound. I checked to make sure Ralph's door was soundly shut as I did. I didn't want him to be disturbed by either Megan's cries or this otherworldly song.

Sodium's warmth, a tender, glowing hug,

Magnesium's glow, a radiant carpet rug.

Aluminum cradles, like arms strong and true,

Elements surround you, as dreams unfold anew.

The door to Megan's room was half closed. I silently pushed it open wide enough to slip through, blinking in the soft glow of her nightlight as I entered. I saw Megan wide awake in her bouncy chair. Her attention was rapt on her father's face as he sat in front of her, strumming a guitar.

Silicon whispers secrets, in the sands of dreams,

Phosphorus illuminates, like distant moonbeams.

Sulfur's quiet melody, a gentle, soothing song,

Cherishing the moments as the night grows long.

I often sang to Megan during the day and she seemed to enjoy it. But at night, when she was inconsolable, nothing calmed her, not even Ralph's favorite lullabies that had soothed him when nothing else would. But now here was Walter singing and playing the guitar. And it soothed her. He held her attention so perfectly, that neither one of them even knew I had entered the room.

Chlorine dances, in the shadows of the night,

Argon's calm embrace, a tranquil, quiet sight.

Potassium's heartbeat, a rhythm soft and slow,

Elements unite, as the dream currents flow.

Tears prickled in my eyes at the feeling of love and connection I was witnessing between Walter and Megan. Before she had been born, Walter worried that he wouldn't be able to connect with a child so young. I'd never admit it, I had wondered the same thing myself. But he was perfect with her, they were perfect together. I wanted to stay and soak in more of Walter's tentative baritone, but I didn't want to intrude on their time, so without a sound, I slipped out the door and walked back to my bed for more much-needed sleep, Walter's lullaby following me there.

Calcium builds a castle, where dreams are free to roam,

Elements in symphony, guiding you back home.

As the stars watch over, in their cosmic ballet,

The periodic lullaby carries your dreams away…

Author's Note:

Lest anyone have the mistaken idea that I am a poet or lyric writer, Walter's Periodic Table lullaby was so helpfully written for me by ChatGPT. I don't use AI in my fanfic writing, except in very specific instances which I will disclose in the Author's Note. Otherwise, for better or for worse, everything I write comes out of my brain and typing fingers.