ETERNITY {Little Women}

04.

The creaking of wood gave way from above alerting the half asleep March of her older sisters own rising. Eyes opened and mind half awake, Aurelia stretched in her door way just as Jo's frame descended from the attics steps.

"Warms my heart to know you wait up for me" the eldest girl spoke sarcastically, swinging an arm around her younger sister, pages gripped in her hand.

"Of course, The Great Jo March deserves a worthy escort"

They reached the bottom steps, and Jo ruffled the younger Marchs hair. "I'm certainly glad it's you"

Laughing softly the girls joined their sisters in the living room. The Christmas tree stood tall, giving off an odd glow in the days light.

"You've awoken from the dead I see" Amy snorted, taking in her presence.

"A shame, it was so peaceful" Jo snatched back, before announcing the new edits to her play as she handed out the new scenes to everyone.

"No, no poison it's Christmas" Amy whined as she looked over the pages in hand. The older March ignored her flopping down on the couch.

"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents" The fiery girl commented. Aurelia plopped down next to her sighing. She didn't really care much for gifts. As long as the ground was covered in a shimmering white, she was happy.

"- it's dreadful being poor" The eldest March added. Amy followed in pursuit complaining about how it was unfair for some to get pretty things while others don't.

"At least we have father and mother - and each other" Beth spoke up, looking around at her older siblings with a small smile. Aurelia nodded at the quiet girl before ruffling her hair and taking a seat beside her. The older March girl took this moment to take in the beauty at what her sister's had created.

At first glance the decor would seem sloppy and perhaps dull - ordinary. Yet to Aurelia March, it was quite the opposite. She could see the traces of Amy's handy work in the way certain things intertwined, and the spots where Meg would've helped keeping it together. It didn't matter to her that not everything shined perfectly on its own, what mattered was that there was piece of the people she loved in everything that surrounded her.

"- but my favourite one is to be an artist and go to Paris and do fine pictures and be the best painter in the world" Amy's voice brought reality back to the wandering March, who smiled in admiration at the blond.

Beth shifted slightly beside her looking towards the sprawled out March. "That's what you want too, isn't it Jo? To be a famous writer?" she asked, leaning back against the chair. The fiery girl nodded, but held a look of distaste in how the younger blond referenced a similar dream.

"Why be ashamed of what you want?" Amy questioned, confused. Jo began in protest before being interrupted by the shy girl with fire.

"My wish is to have us all to be together with Father and Mother in this house - that's what I want" she paused before turning her head to face the girl beside her, "What do you wish for Lia?"

The question caught the older girl off guard. What did she want?  There were so many  things she could've thrown out there, but she didn't see herself as an artist like Amy, or a writer like Jo. She didn't match up to Beth's gift of music nor Meg's ability to evoke stories. So, what could she want? Pulling her knees towards her chest, she answered. "I'm not really sure.." She trailed off before continuing. "I guess I wish to see everything" The girl shrugged, chin resting a top her knees.

If she couldn't pick just one thing, why not everything? The idea of being able to see all the different things the world had to offer? It brought a new kind of life to the quiet March. The thought of all the beautiful moments and unique people she had yet to meet - it brought her a strange whisper of hope.