The Moon on a String

.prologue.

"Good morning, my sweet."

It was only the gentle, caressing press of lips against her forehead that managed to rouse the young woman from her slumber, even though the hungry cries of their eleven month old child rung clear as day throughout the house — a sound that should have woken her hours before.

Lucy Barker was a particularly heavy sleeper, not fond at all of the morning hours, and therefore a low grumble stirred deep in her throat at the realization she must endure another day the gloomy streets of London had to offer. She wrapped her arms around her husband's torso once she felt him move to rise from the bed, a weak attempt to keep him pinned to their sheets for as long as possible, burying her face into his bare chest with a gentle sigh.

"Johanna," she finally managed to groan, words muffled.

Benjamin let out a rather hearty laugh at the sight, chest heaving as he went to move the few stray strands of yellow hair that were particularly bothersome, tucking each strand behind her ears with the same tentativeness his morning kiss had carried. Although the barber seemed equally eager to stay in bed with his wife for a few moments more, Lucy could feel the desperation to get started with the day's rather mundane tasks radiate from him. After all, they both knew Johanna would not stop screaming in her cradle until one of them rose.

"Let me up, darling. I'll take care of her."

Reluctant, Lucy released her husband from her embrace and instead used what little strength she had to roll over on the opposite side, now looking into the interior of the bedroom itself. Squinting against the unexpected brightness that greeted her, the woman found herself astounded by such a sight. She couldn't remember the last time the cloudy and grey skies of London had allowed even the slightest bit of sunlight to trickle in, but now the sky was cloudless and a vibrant shade of robin egg's blue — perfect shopping weather indeed.

That would explain why her skin was plastered with sweat on this particular morning, the white lace of her nightgown sticking to her so. As the spring months continued to bleed into summer, the air would only become increasingly more sweltering, and Lucy sent up a quick prayer that perhaps the gloomy mornings she had become accustomed to would vanish for just a short while.

Hastily buttoning his undershirt up to the collar, the same shirt he had tossed aside without a second thought the night before, Lucy watched intently as the young barber strode over to the bedside cradle where their daughter resided, quickly scooping the screaming baby up into his arms as soothing words tumbled from his lips. Almost immediately Johanna's cries ceased, and the man's words turned into a soft hum. Now realizing her father was holding her and she understood where she was, content mumbles and giggles filled the air instead. The grin that shone upon Benjamin's face at such made her heart melt into butter, her husband expressing nothing more than the sheer joy of a father. He lifted his eyes from Johanna's chubby cheeks, eyes softening as his brown gaze met with Lucy's blue, nothing but happiness coating those eyes she loved so much.

A picture perfect family, that's what they were.

Until Lucy was made to attend Benjamin's sentencing that very evening.

— ✧ ☾✧ —

Author's Note:
So, this is my first ever published story on this platform, and I'm really excited to see your feedback on my first work! The prologue is a little shorter than I'd like, but due to the length of incoming chapters, I feel this is a reasonable length. Look forward to much longer chapters in the future!