Hiraeth

Hiraeth (chapter 1)

Chapter one

I tapped my foot anxiously, watching the clock as it ticked, the time passing seemed endless. My shift was almost over, and I anticipated leaving even more than usual. Today was kind of special. It was my sister's birthday, and let's just say I had a big surprise for her. 

As I waited for my shift to end I thought; is this really all life is? Shift after shift at a job that barely provides for my sister and I? I want more than only this for her. If this is all life will give me, I won't allow my sister to go through the same future as myself. She will do something with her life, something that inspires her, something that she will wake up in the morning and be excited about. My sister will grow up to be more than average, more than I am or ever will be...

I stopped and realized that I was thinking too much. Now is a time to be happy. It's my sister's birthday, not a funeral!

"Damn I really need to lighten up" I whispered to myself.

I felt excitement rise in me as the minute hand clicked once, then again to the 12, the hour hand on 6. Grabbing my worn jacket, I tore out of the building and raced down the cobblestone streets. I screeched to a halt, reading an old man's cardboard sign. "Anything helps."

Brimming with excitement, but pitying the old guy, I dropped a nickel in his can and turned to keep running.

"That's all?" He asked grouchily.

"That's all I have, dude. I thought anything helped." I responded, glancing down the street hurriedly.

"Whatever, sweetcheeks. I bet you could pay me another way." He grinned sleazily.

"I don't owe you anything. I don't have time to deal with gross old men." I snapped, and once again went to leave, but hesitated.

Grabbing the coin back out of the can, I continued my dash down the hot stone street of Portofino, the little Italian town my sister and I reside by.

I heard shouts behind me of angered citizens, but no one pursued. A rush of adrenaline fueled me as I left the town at a turn and slowed to a walk as I approached the little trailer in the field where we live.

The door opened and my sister, Isabella, appeared in the doorway, smiling and waving. She was only 14 today. I smiled back and jogged up to meet her, the paper package tucked into my jacket.

"Is, I have a surprise for you!" I smiled, reaching into my jacket.

"Oh my gosh- you didn't! You shouldn't have bought anything for me, El!"

Presenting the package and leaning in, I whispered, "Good thing I didn't!"

"You didn't steal this!" She exclaimed, holding it away from her.

"I made it. Go on, open!"

Gingerly, she started to tear away the brown paper. Her reluctance turned into excitement when she saw the yellow and white fabric.

"Elena, you did not!" She held the sundress up. I smiled, proud of the hours I spend over a sewing machine, hemming the edges and sewing in seams. It looked like a perfect fit.

"Go try it on, Is!" I said, giving her a little push toward the changing curtain.

Beaming, she rushed over.

I was right, it was a perfect fit. She spun around to show me. The light fabric glowed in contrast to her almond skin.

"You look incredible!" I gasped, giving her a tight hug.

"This dress makes me want to lay on the fields in the sun," she said dreamily. "Remember when we used to do that every day, Elena? On our picnic blanket?"

I smiled at the memory.

"There's no reason we can't do that now, Izzy!" I grinned, and gestured to the cabinet we kept the old blanket in, now. Isabel's face lit up, "Can we?"

"We absolutely can"

...

I have three outfits. Elena, my big sister, has four.

She just made me a dress, which means now i have four, too.

To be honest, I don't know how she found the time to make that dress. You would think that since she literally works as a seamstress' apprentice, she would get to make unlimited clothing and we'd be, like, queens.

Yeah, no.

Sadly, there's a limit on how much fabric we can use. The head seamstress buys tools, e.g., needles, machines, pins, cushions, etc., out of pocket. She pays for fabric with profit.

This means that apprentices, like Elena, practically work their fingers to the bone on little to no pay. They churn out items and tailor garments until their shift is over. Truly, they only get paid when the head is around. So, almost never.

We were laying out in the field, under the sun. Just like we used to.

"Remember, a couple years ago... you were twelve and I was fourteen, and we'd sit on this blanket and braid the wildflowers into eachothers' hair?" Elena said, not moving her gaze from the cloudless sky.

I turned to face her. "Yeah, and you told me that fairies lived in the bushes and slept in periwinkles at night."

She smiled, "We don't have any proof they don't,"

We sighed, together.

I wish fairies were real.