Prelude to Suffering (1)

"Trinity." A vibrant young girl opens her gleaming lavender eyes and looks up at the owner of the beautiful voice that called her name. Her navy blue hair and periwinkle eyes gaze upon Trinity with adoration and love. They make her feel warm and safe. They give her comfort and joy like nothing else can. Her soft peach skin and a scent of cinnamon resonate in her memory.

"Mama!" The young girl hugs her mother tightly, raising her arms to embrace her, while keeping her head on her lap. Her mother leans down to meet her embrace and squeezes her affectionately.

"You are such a sweet girl Trinity; my sweet, precious girl. I never dreamed something as unique as you would exist, let alone that I'd be allowed to call you mine. You're a true miracle Trinity."

The girl smiles. "Thank you Mama, I'll try to keep being a good girl, so I can make you proud."

"I don't need you to make me proud Trinity. You're already a good girl too. Do your best to be happy instead. That's all I've ever wanted for my children. Do the things that you love most."

"Ok, I'll try Mama, but why is the sky always so grey? There's no sun or moon like in books."

The woman's face becomes darkened, her eye's occluded by a wave of depression as she recalls her trauma. But then she smiles, refusing to betray the girl's perception, as she answers, "Would you like to see the sun and the moon Trinity? Would you like to see them outside of books?"

"Yes!" The girl answers excitedly. "I want to see them Mama! The sky here is so boring. It's always just one shade and we don't get any rain or snow either. They seem very interesting, so I'd really like to see them. Is there somewhere we can go Mama? Somewhere with sun, rain, snow, and night to view the moon and the stars? I want more than just to see it in books Mama."

"There is a place Trinity. It's beautiful. I've only been there once, but it was the most beautiful place I'd ever seen. There were so many people, so many different places and so many different things to see and enjoy. It was fun and filled with happy times, but it could be a bit scary too."

"Is that why you left there? Because it was too scary to stay? Did you get hurt?" The girl asks.

"I was never meant to stay there forever Trinity, and I'm a lot stronger than you may think." She winks. "Nonetheless, I left there and have never been back, as I was only allowed one chance."

"One chance? What do you mean Mama?" The woman shakes her head apologetically, refusing to answer. "Why choose to come here, to such a dreary place? Wasn't there someplace better?"

"One day, you will have to make a choice Trinity. I'm afraid I won't be able to be with you when that time comes, but I want you to remember that I'm always with you here." She places her hand over the girl's heart. "This will always lead you in the right direction if you follow it, and at the end of the journey, I will be waiting there." She touches her pregnant belly. "For you both."

~~~

"Ah!" The woman screams out in agonizing pain, as she pushes with all her might, as directed.

"You're doing great, just a bit more now. I can already see the head! Just a few more pushes." The midwife instructs the woman as she struggles to give birth. "I need you to push hard now!"

"You can do it Mama!" Trinity offers encouragement from behind, as she looks on with worried yet intrigued eyes. "Just a bit more and baby sister Shiori will be here! I'm so excited! Are you?"

The woman smiles at the girl through her pain. "Yes, I'm very excited to meet her Trinity. Ugh!"

"I know it hurts, but you must push through the pain. Babies born like this…it's what is owed." The woman's eyes are harrowing, but she doesn't elaborate further. "Please push hard Madame!"

"Ugh! Ah!" She pushes with all her might, and with a mighty cry, Shiori is finally born. "My baby. Please, quickly, let me see my baby!" She speaks with urgency and the midwife obliges. She stares at the girl, with her hair black as night and her golden eyes. "Please, protect her!"

She says this as she holds her baby against her body, with her mouth positioned beside her ear. Her eyes, however, look up towards the hopeless sky, and then finally at Trinity. Who this passionately spoken request is for and her specific intentions for making it remains unclear.

"Me too Mama, let me see her too!" Trinity rushes over to her mother but becomes petrified. "Mama?" Her mother is smiling, seemingly at peace, but her eyes are empty, void of any life. "Daddy!" She calls out to the figure obscured in shadow. He comforts her, hiding a devilish grin.