A Radiant Future

Chapter 7 - Colder than expected

~Micaiah is 3 months pregnant~

The new year started out colder than usual. Usually, it would be a bit warm for the first 10 days, for 10 days it would be cold while the last 11 days of the month would be a mix of both. But for the whole of that January, it was cold.

During this month Sothe and Micaiah made a visit to Daein orphanages to drop late Christmas presents for the children. At this time her stomach started to show a tiny bump, which caused the children to start asking questions, one commonly being the child's gender.

One afternoon, the couple arrived at a small orphanage in Nevassa, greeted by hundreds of children and their caretakers. The orphans begged Micaiah to retell of the Goddess War. She sat on a couch in the main room and told the little boys and girls seated on the floor around her the stories from the war against Goddess Ashera. As claps filled the room as the tale ended, Micaiah's eye spotted an odd little girl on a make shift wheelchair. Her legs weren't properly formed, her arms were different lengths and two different colored eyes. Her hair was bright brown with tangles and knots showing. The silver haired queen went over to the disabled child.
"hello there young one...why didn't you want to join us?" she asked softly
"the others...no like...me" the child replied with broken and poor English.
"What is your name?" the Queen asked with a smile on her face
"...Sofi.." whispered her. It was awkward as Sofi had nothing to say while Micaiah spoke to her about how she felt when she was younger. Sothe looked at the two ladies speaking as a little boy came up to him
"why is miss queen speaking to her?" the orphan asked, but Sothe didn't answer back.

"Now why don't you think your friends like you?" Micaiah ended.
"I...have..a mark..on my foot.." Sofi muttered, looking scared.
"She was one of the branded, like me?" Micaiah told herself. She pointed to her foot with her shorter arm, Micaiah saw. It had a pattern she never saw before. She found someone who thought like her when she was younger.
"If it makes you feel better, I have a mark on my hand too.." Micaiah whispered, pulling a white glove off her right hand, showing a brand looking like it was drawn with ink. Sofi smiled, what could be recorded as the first time from some other orphans. She found someone like her, someone who shared her taboo. Sothe smiled at what he saw. His wife helping a young disabled Branded girl feel better about herself. Even though their baby was going to be Branded no doubt, it would have made Micaiah feel better to see a young Branded child to get ready for theirs.

Later that evening, back at Daein Keep, Micaiah laid down on their bed, gently rubbing her little bump. Sothe sat next to her, holding her hand that bore the brand that she covered. He pulled up her dress, barely enough to expose her abdomen and placed his forehead there. She looked a little confused, but rubbed his green hair. Sothe ended with a kiss on her belly and whispering "I will always protect both you and your mommy and I love you both.."

~note to self. NEVER write while playing Mario Kart 8. It...keeps you up till ungodly hours. Hehehe I was a little over competitive and it seems crappy but thanks for reading anyways!!~