Fragments - Book One of the Missing

Chapter 4 - Rowan

Rowan ran over the list one more time: eggs, bread, tomatoes, onion, lettuce for a salad, a nice cut of meat, and the makings of a cake. She crossed eggs off, and mentally planned the rest of her route through the Market.

Olive skipped around Rowan, her dark auburn, curly hair bouncing as she moved. She gushed excitedly about the present they planned to buy for their mother. Rowan was happy Olive came with her; the company always lifted her spirits. Usually Rowan's three younger sisters ventured to the Market together to escape their claustrophobic apartment. But today was different.

She left Rosie, the second youngest and only thirteen, home to decorate for their mini-party with streamers and paper flowers she had spent weeks making. Margeaux, just two years younger than Rowan, stayed home to mope, as was her specialty. But Olive's company was more than enough.

Her special job was to pick out mom's present from the four girls. As Olive kept reminding her, she was almost ten, and deserved some responsibility. This task was an absolute joy for her.

"Rowan, come on! I think I see something awesome!" Olive tugged on her sleeve and dragged her forward. Rowan looked down at Olive's small hand in her black-gloved hand and could still feel the warmth radiating from her.

Olive pulled her straight into a stand glittering with necklaces and pendants hanging on every available space of the wall and ceiling. As the sun shone through, it radiated off the crystals and gave the stand an unearthly glow. Crystals of all shapes and sizes hung from the ceiling. Olive particularly liked the small butterflies that seemed to be floating through the air. Her eyes sparkled.

"G'morning," a young woman, maybe a little older than Rowan herself, at the counter said, breaking her focus. She was thin, had watery eyes and looked rather frail, but her small smile was nice enough. "The butterflies are beautiful, aren't they? Capturing the light in such a way? I always feel the tent comes alive when this happens."

Before Rowan could respond, Olive nodded excitedly and jumped in. "We are looking for a birthday present for our Mom."

Looking at her sister, Rowan realized she was definitely becoming more confident. One part of her swelled with pride. But a nagging part was worried Olive would take it for independence soon and endanger herself before she truly understood what the world was like. Their family had kept a lot of it from her, knowing she had to deal with her fair share of pain and loss in the past. It would break Rowan's heart to tell her what it was really like.

"You've come to the right place then, it seems. These necklaces make lovely gifts, Little Miss."

By the slight tightening of her eyes, Rowan could tell Olive didn't like being condescended to.

"You can pick any of the pendants and chains, or we can make something from scratch... perhaps something more personal?"

"I think we can pick one of the pend..." Rowan started but was quickly cut off by Olive.

"Be quiet, Rowan. You said this was my decision," she huffed. Turning back to the woman, she smiled radiantly. "We will make our own for Mom."

The vendor clapped her hands together. "Wonderful! It will be a little different then. Every gem represents something particular... special if you will." She pulled a tray out from underneath the counter. Rowan was stunned by the tray before her. Beautiful gems, crystals and rocks that lay before her in colors that ranged from warm sunset to deepest night, from blood red to sky blue. Some were solid, while other's had a more crystalline structure. All of them were beautiful.