Little Star

This is written in response to Sadje’s What Do You See? prompt. For this week, Sadje has given us two images to use and we can use one or both.

Image Credit; Fadly Hj Halim @ Unsplash

I never was a crafty person, but I felt the urge to create something beautiful to show my new baby when she arrived. I couldn’t afford much in the way of supplies, but at the dollar store I found a chalkboard and some chalk, some cute glittery donuts and an ice cream to glue on the board along with a golden star wand. The top I decorated with golden star twinkle lights. I carefully wrote the words, “Twinkle, Twinkle little star do you know how loved you are” with hearts all around. When my board was completed, I marveled at how lovely it was. I thought Star would be a fitting name for my baby. I felt encouraged that I could accomplish whatever I set my mind to, whatever needed to be done, for myself and my baby girl. I already loved her more than I loved myself.

I hated going to work. All I wanted to do was lie in bed or sit in my chair and look out the window, patting my little bump and dreaming of what life was going to be. No one at work understood how tired I was, how sick I felt sometimes. My boss constantly gave me more tasks to complete until I was overwhelmed. As I took food orders behind the counter, the customers seemed to understand. They would tell me I looked like I was glowing and that I was doing a great job. I could hear my boss sigh in the background.

I hurried home after work was over, stopping at the corner grocery to buy some tea that was supposed to make your delivery easier. I always sipped this tea in the evenings. Once home, I put the kettle on to boil and changed into my comfy clothes. Everything I wore these days felt so tight I was like a sausage in a casing.

As I sat in my chair, sipping my tea, Mother came into the room and sat down near me. “Dear,” she began, “how are you today?”

“Fine, Mother,” I said and looked out the window, trying to ignore her. I patted my bump and added, “I didn’t have morning sickness today.”

“That’s wonderful. And that’s what I needed to talk to you about,” Mother paused. She paused a lot. “Do you realize that you have been pregnant a very long time now? Almost 18 months?”

“I guess some babies just need more time to be ready to enter this world. After all, it isn’t the greatest place to be. She will come when she’s ready,” I answered, just as I did every time.

“But, honey, making a baby doesn’t take that long. And you haven’t been with a boy. You have to be with a boy to make a baby.”

“I’m with boys all the time. All day today at work I was with boys.”

“I mean with a boy, like, you have to have sex with a boy to make a baby.”

“You always said a baby is made with love. You know how much I loved Mark. I loved him with my whole heart, and together our love made a baby.”

“Sweetheart, I know you believe that, but you cannot be pregnant. You have got to stop this fantasy. You are not going to have a baby. This pregnancy isn’t real, it’s all in your head. There is no baby inside you. I am so sorry, honey. You have got to believe me this time. I have been trying to make you see the truth.” Mother hung her head, and brushed away some tears. “Even if you and Mark did,” Mother paused again, “Mark has been dead over a year. It’s not possible. I don’t know what we are going to do if you keep on this way. I guess we could take you to the doctor again.”

I smiled at Mother and squeezed her hand. “Yes, let’s go back to the doctor. It’s time I had another check up and we can talk about my delivery plan.” Mother stood and gave me a hug and whispered that she loved me. I could only hope to be as good a mother. I sipped my tea and looked out the window, feeling a peace come over me.

Image Credit; Miguel Luis @ Unsplash

#WDYS #whatdoyousee

What do you see # 287- 5th May, 2025