Farewell

Beep...beep...beep

Joanna's blue eyes landed on the stupid heart monitor that made that infernal sound.

She knew she was dying, everyone knew she was dying, so why keep track of her heartbeat? Her agitation dissipated, however, when she turned her head and saw her one true joy.

Her daughter, Rianna. The babe was sleeping peacefully in the cradle, wrapped in a quilt Joanna's grandmother made.

Joanna and her fiancé, Connor were shocked and overjoyed when they learned she was pregnant, but it turned to sorrow when she was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

Joanna had been presented with two options; go through treatment, and have a fair chance of survival, but lose the baby, or refuse treatment and keep the child, but have roughly a year left. She had always wanted to be a mother, so the choice was obvious.

Though no one else around her seemed to, Joanna had long since come to terms that she wouldn't do the things she wanted to do, like be the maid of honor at her sister's wedding, or see Rianna's first wobbly steps, or grow old with Connor. She long gave up on trying to explain it to everyone.

What she hadn't told anyone; was that she felt another presence with her at all times; it felt alien, otherworldly.

Joanna just convinced herself that her mind was having a good laugh at her expense in the last few months.  

The blonde sighed and sat up, adjusting the bed so she could prop her laptop on her knees properly.

Joanna clicked through various social media, trying to drive herself to distraction for a few hours.

The presence has been getting...stronger in recent weeks, it was a slight tingling sensation on her right arm. It intrigued her to no end, but she had never given too much thought.

Her thoughts were cut short when she heard a gentle coo from the cradle. Joanna glanced over to see Rianna opening her eyes, blinking away the sleepiness.

Standing from the bed, Joanna went over to the cradle and picked up Rianna, a gentle smile coming over her lovely features.

Joanna was quite a beauty, and she was aware of it, with her platinum blonde hair brushing her waist and large blue eyes that had a constant dreamy look to them. Her face was somewhat pixie-like and delicate, much like the rest of her. She was as kind as she was beautiful, her heart having more than enough compassion for anyone who crossed paths with her.

Much to everyone's bittersweet surprise, however, Rianna seemed to have inherited much of her mother's beauty, with big blue eyes and soft blonde hair, though her slightly jutting chin and wide mouth was her father's.

But never, not even for a moment did she regret having Rianna, who was her main consolation in her final days. Everyone else seemed to respect that, and left the child with her mother often.

Joanna let Rianna grasp one of her fingers in a feeble hold as she gently rocked her and kissed her forehead.

The lyrics of a lullaby her mother sang to her and her twin sister as children came to mind.

Lay down your head,

And I'll sing you a lullaby

Back to the years,

Of loo-li lai-lay

And I'll sing you to sleep

And I'll sing you tomorrow

Bless you with love

For the road that you go

May there always be fairies