Eden's Fall

Falling Dreams

Bella screamed. "Mommy?" She whimpered.

Zoe padded into the room, "What is it, Izzy?" Zoe had called her that when she was being exceptionally loving.

"Mommy I had a bad dream. I was drowning and I yelled for you and you didn't come and then I saw you walkin' past and you were with daddy and a new baby and I was all alone." Bella buried her face in her mother'a soft shirt.

"Izzy, there could be a dozen babies that were mine, but I would never let you drown." Zoe stroked her hair.

•

Bella sat up. How old was she? Fourteen. That dream though, it was spooky. Bella remembered having that conversation with her mother when she was seven, and her mom had told her that she was expecting a baby, Charlie.

"I would never let you drown." Mom had said.

Too late, Mommy. I'm already can't breathe. Bella thought.

Summer was sprawled over Bella's legs. Bella slowly slipped her legs out from under Summer.

She lifted Wendy and slowly trudged up the stairs. Somehow, Wendy was twenty pounds heavier asleep. Bella laid Wendy down on her bed. Wendy sighed and turned over.

"Hey." Bella whirled around only to find Eden and Mia in the doorway. "I found her at the door. She said it was almost midnight."

Bella started. "Wendy, Wendy wake up. Mia go wake up Charlie."

"Bewa?" Wendy blinked her blue eyes blearily.

"It's almost time for Mommy's birthday party." Bella set Wendy on the floor.

"Mommy's back?" Wendy stumbled down the stairs, holding Bella's hand.

Bella swallowed the hard lump in her throat. Wendy still couldn't wrap her head around the fact Mom was gone, really truly gone. "No Wendy."

"Home soon?" Wendy rubbed her eyes.

Bella took a deep breath. "Soon."

"Yay." Mia and Charlie stood in the kitchen, a single cupcake in front of them.

Bella pulled out a lighter and set the wick ablaze.

Happy birthday to you, everyone sang softly.
Happy birthday to you, Bella blinked back tears.
Happy birthday dear Mommy, Bella saw Mia tighten her hold on Charlie's hand.
Happy birthday to you. Wendy leaned over and blew out the candle.

•

Bella remembered the day that each of her siblings came home. Charlie had come with fanfare, a boy, a boy for mommy's new husband. Then Mia, who Charlie, then one, leaned over the crib and said "Char wuvs Mimi." Mom had just told him her name. Wendy was adored by four year old Mia, five year old Charlie, and twelve year old Bella.

Mom had said she had something to tell them, the night. The night where Bella ruined everything.

"Bewa?" Wendy pulled on Bella's hand. "I seepy. Go now?"

"Yeah. We can go. Mia are you going back to Kayla's house?" Bella lifted Wendy.

"Yes." Mia hugged Charlie and ran out of the house.

"I'm going back to bed." Charlie flopped back onto the couch.

Bella tiptoed up the stairs and laid Wendy back down.