But We Could Get By

Chapter 1

"Mum, look!" Johanna exclaimed, pointing at the window. "What is it?" Nellie asked, walking over to her. "It's a bird! A bird flew by! And it was free! The bird seller hasn't caught it!" Johanna exclaimed. "That's very nice, dear." Nellie replied with a smile. "Birds are neat. They sing pretty songs AND they can fly." Johanna said. "I wish I were more like a bird. Well, a free one." She added. "What are you talking about? You sing beautifully." Nellie responded. Johanna giggled, and sang random notes. "I still can't fly though." She then said, her smile fading away. "Of course you can." Nellie replied. "But I don't have wings." Johanna said. "You don't need wings to fly." Nellie responded.
   She lifted Johanna off the ground, and spun her around. Johanna laughed. "I'm flying!" She exclaimed. After a minute or so, Nellie put her down. She stumbled around, but eventually regained balance. "That was fun!" She exclaimed. She ran around the house, giggling. Nellie smiled sadly as she watched her. She cared deeply about Johanna, and was happy to raise her, but sometimes, when she looked at her, she was reminded of how much she missed her friend, Benjamin Barker. He was a kind man, an absolute sweetheart to everyone he knew. She didn't understand why he hadn't been sent back to London yet. Everyone knew he did nothing wrong. Everyone knew he was sent away on false charges, yet no one did anything about it. After losing him, all she had left was Lucy, his wife, and Johanna, his daughter. Talking to Lucy was a bit awkward, considering she was in love with her husband, but they were good friends, nonetheless. But Lucy ended up drinking poison. Nellie tried her best to help her, but things didn't go as planned. Not until a few years later, did she find out that Lucy had been sent to the asylum instead of the hospital. She wound up completely losing her mind, and her memories with it. She had tried a few times to let her live there again, but every time, she'd scream and run away. At that point, Nellie figured there was nothing she could do.
   Now it was just her and the Barkers' eight year old daughter. Poor Johanna never got to really meet her parents. She was only a year old when Benjamin was sent away, and almost two when Lucy poisoned herself. Nellie couldn't believe it had been seven years since her friend was wrongfully sent away. How did no one notice he didn't belong in prison? Why was he never sent back? "Mum." She heard Johanna say, pulling her out of her thoughts. "Yes, dear?" She replied. "Are you alright?" She asked. "Yeah." Nellie lied. "Are you sure?" Johanna asked. "You look sad." She added. "I'll be fine." Nellie said. "You know, you look a lot like your mother. You have your father's personality though." She added. Johanna smiled. "My mum is pretty. I saw the photos." She said. "My other mum. You're also my mum. You're pretty too though." She quickly added. Nellie laughed a little. "And I think dad and I would get along." Johanna said. "Indeed you would." Nellie replied. "Is it weird that I miss him, even though I never met him?" Johanna asked. "It's not weird at all." Nellie said. "I miss him too." "You actually knew him though." Johanna responded. "What was he like?" She asked. "Didn't I tell you already?" Nellie responded. "Yeah, but I wanna hear it again." Johanna said. "Alright then." Nellie replied.
   "Your father was a kindhearted man. He was caring, free spirited, and enjoyed making people smile. He was a good friend, always there for the people he loved. He was beautiful, inside and out." She said. Johanna smiled. "He sounds nice." She replied. Her face fell. "I wish I could meet him." She said. "Do you think he'll come back?" She asked. "Of course! I don't know when, but he'll be back." Nellie responded. Johanna's face lit up. "He'll come back, and we'll be a happy family!" She exclaimed. Nellie smiled. "Yep. Just the three of us." She said. "It's getting late. You should get some sleep." She then said. "It's not that late." Johanna replied. "We have to wake up early tomorrow." Nellie said. Johanna sighed. "Fine." She mumbled. "Can you read me a bedtime story?" She asked. "Of course." Nellie replied. Johanna walked to her room. Nellie followed her, and sat at the end of the bed.
   "What story do you wanna hear?" She asked. "The one you made up, about the bird who sang his way out of his cage!" Johanna exclaimed, lying down. "Alright." Nellie replied. "Once upon a time, there was a bird. This bird loved to fly through the city. Unaware of the danger, he flew nearby a local bird seller. The bird seller caught him, and caged him. Unable to fly, the bird sang sadly. He soon realized he could use his singing to his advantage. He sang all day and all night, constantly keeping the bird seller awake. And because nobody would buy this bird, the bird seller had to constantly deal with him. He was tired, and couldn't sleep with all the singing, so finally, he let the bird go. The bird flew away happily, and went back to his family and friends." She said. "And they all lived happily ever after?" Johanna asked. "Yes, they did." Nellie replied.
   "Maybe dad can sing until they let him go." Johanna suggested. Nellie laughed. "Maybe." She said. Of course it wasn't that simple, but she had to stay positive for Johanna. "Mum." She heard her say. "Yes?" She replied. "Are you okay?" Johanna asked. "You look sad." She added. "I'm fine, dear." Nellie responded. "Okay. Goodnight." Johanna said. Nellie kissed her head. "Goodnight." She replied. She left Johanna's room, and walked to her own.
   She stared at the wall, and found herself thinking about Benjamin Barker once again. She missed him more than anything. Oh, how she wished he could just come home. She thought about his return. The thought of seeing him again made her smile. She thought about him telling her he loved her. She knew it was unlikely, but she couldn't help but fantasize. "I love you too, Benjamin. I've loved you all along." She muttered. She thought about how happy Johanna would be to see him again. She imagined the three of them living life as a happy family. She sighed. "If only." She thought to herself.