An Eternity of Change

Chapter 2

September 24, 1799

            “But Jane, why do I have to learn how to cook?” Jaylyn complained as she watched her sister turn on the stove and take out some ingredients that would eventually become dinner.

            Jane kneeled down so she was eye level with her little sister. “Don’t you want to make Father proud?”

            “…Yes.” Jaylyn replied quietly, ever since she could remember her father had always seemed to be a bit depressed, maybe this would make him happy again.

            “Then come help me, don’t worry I won’t let you get burned by the stove.” She said the last part jokingly.

            Jaylyn watched carefully as her sister began to get out some vegetables and chicken. Jane turned back to her and pointed to the back door. “Go get some wood from the pile outside, we’ll need to keep the fire going.”

            “Okay!” Jaylyn quickly raced off out the door and into the slightly chilly air.

            She began picking up some of the wood that was lying in a neat stack beside the door, all of it had been chopped down by their father who liked to go out alone to cut it down whenever it started getting low. Jaylyn staggered back inside with her load and dropped it as gently as she could onto the floor. Jane didn’t look up from cutting the chicken into three different pieces and Jaylyn, not sure what she should do; put some of the wood in the fire to keep it strong. After a few more minutes of silence her sister put the chicken in a pot and began cutting the vegetables, not liking only the cutting of the knife and the crackle of the flames being the only noise Jaylyn decided to ask a question that had started to bother her.

            “Why doesn’t Father smile anymore?” She looked up at her sister who had paused in her cutting. “Is it because of us?”

            “It’s because of you.” Jaylyn flinched at Jane’s harsh tone and gaze.

            “W-what did I do?”

            “When he gets home why don’t you ask him?” Jane offered coldly.

            Jaylyn backed away slowly with wide eyes, her sister had never snapped at her like that before. She stayed in the living room for the rest of the time, continuing to watch Jane as she prepared dinner, the lesson might have been forgotten but she could still try to learn. It wasn’t like she had anything else to do at the moment, it was getting too dark out to go outside. When their father did get home they had already eaten their dinner, Jane had gone to bed, still having not said a word to Jaylyn, Jaylyn however stayed up and sat curled up in the chair until her father came in.

            “Jaylyn, what are you still doing up?” Her father exclaimed as he saw her.

            She blinked, close to falling asleep, before remembering her answer. “Jane said… she said it was my fault.”

            Daniel walked over to her and picked her up. “For what? You haven’t done anything wrong.”

            “You don’t smile anymore…” Jaylyn yawned as she fought to stay awake. “She says… it’s my fault.”

            He sat down with her curled up against him. “Of course it isn’t your fault, you didn’t do anything wrong.”

            “Then why?” Jaylyn looked up at him innocently. “Tell me.”

            “You’re too young. Maybe in a few years.”

            “Please…” Jaylyn shifted into a sitting position.

            Daniel sighed after looking into his daughter’s tired pleading eyes. “Your mother died the night you were born, she wasn’t well in the days before, and I guess having you was just too much… You were nearly dead too, so small and sickly, no one expected you to make it. Jane and I were so happy when you got better and now, now look you’re beginning to look so much like your mother, the same exact eyes, just a shade darker hair than hers.”

            Jaylyn stayed silent then looked up at him. “I killed her?”

            “No. Do not say that.” Her father replied sternly before continuing in a calmer tone. “It’s time for you to go to bed now, you should have been sleeping hours ago.”

            “Yes Father.” Jaylyn stood up and began walking to her room. “…Father?”

            “Yes Jaylyn?” Daniel asked as he looked over his shoulder.

            “Do you ever hate me… because I look like her?”

            “Of course not.” He replied gently. “You can’t change what you look like, no one can.”

            Jaylyn watched him walk off to the kitchen before turning back around and going into her room. He had said it wasn’t her fault, but if that were true, then why did she still feel a bit guilty that he had to go through that pain? Another yawn escaped her and she fell asleep almost as soon as she got into her bed.