“It’s just… something that we have to sign, in order to stay here,” my mother said, trying not to choke on her words as she stroked Bea’s forehead. “We… We’re going to be taken somewhere nicer than this building. Well, you and Tani are.”
“Huh? Why? Where are they taking us?” Bea asked, wrinkling her nose.
“To another island,” my father explained, when my mother hesitated. He sighed. “Listen, baby. We’re going to have to all be separated for a little bit. Mommy and I must stay in this hospital until we’re better, which means you and Tani have to be big girls for us, okay? You’re going to go to that large, pretty island with your cousins and friends, and Tani is going to be staying somewhere nearby.”
It took my sister several moments to register his words, a deep frown creasing her smooth brow.
“What do you mean, somewhere else? Why can’t Tani come with me to the pretty one?”
“Because there isn’t room for her there, darling,” my mother explained, finding her voice again. “That big island is for younger girls and boys. But Tani will be safe, and she won’t be far away. And you’re going to be very busy in the meantime. You’re going to be starting a new school, honey, with your cousins and the rest of your friends. And we’ll see each other every Sunday—and then, once Daddy and I are better, we’ll all move in together with Tani, as soon as possible.”
I winced at her last words, even though it was what I was planning on, just knowing that we still had no guarantee. We didn’t even know when my parents would be able to visit her. They weren’t going anywhere for a while, at least a few weeks, and it would likely just be me showing up to see Bea. But Bea didn’t need to know that right now. The news was so much for her little mind to take in as it was. I could see she was still grappling with it. The concept of separation just didn’t exist in her mind, other than the rare occasion my father and I made a trip away from the colony. Even then, she had never been apart from our mother before.
But, despite her immaturity, she seemed to sense the seriousness of the situation. She didn’t cry. Instead, she nodded slowly and pursed her lips. She was aware that we had all recently been in grave danger, which required us to leave our home and resulted in severe injuries to our parents. She knew these weren’t normal circumstances and must have understood we were all just trying to find our feet in this new place.
“You okay, Bea?” I asked, after several moments of her being quiet.
She nodded again, that deep frown still present on her forehead. “Yeah,” she mumbled.
My mother’s eyes became glassy with tears at her acceptance. She kissed her cheek hard. “I’m proud of you, baby girl, you know that?”
Bea’s eyes went distant beneath my mother’s embrace. It was so much for her to take in, and I suspected her brain was still processing it. Hopefully she would continue to be as calm as she was now.
With the conversation out of the way, the remaining hours before 9 a.m. slipped through our fingers. We stayed together the whole time, hugging and talking, cherishing the last moments we would have together for who knew how long.
Once the clock struck 8:45 a.m., it was time for Bea and me to go. Our father and mother hugged and kissed Bea, and then me, embracing us more intensely than they ever had before. Then I picked up Bea, holding her tight in my arms as we turned to look at our parents one last time.
“See you soon,” my mother said firmly, her eyes glistening with tears. I noticed even the corners of my father’s eyes moistening, and realized it was the first time I had ever seen him cry.
The sight almost set off my own waterworks again, but I managed to hold it back, for Bea’s sake.
“Don’t cry, Mommy,” Bea said, frowning, and apparently not having noticed my father’s tears. “The big island isn’t very far.”
My mother beamed at her, and nodded, dabbing her eyes. “You’re right, it’s not.”
I had to hand it to my brave little sister—she had shown great positivity over the last couple of hours, which gave me hope that she was going to continue approaching the situation with optimism. A part of me also suspected that theadventurous side of her was excited to finally leave this building and visit Founders’ Isle, with the knowledge that she was going to be with her cousins and friends. And I needed to keep that flame of independence alive as much as I could.
I sensed one thing for sure as we left the ward: whatever lay ahead of us in the coming months, Bea was going to grow up fast.
“Hey, Tani.” I heard my uncle’s voice behind me as we passed by the spot where Jessie and I had slept. She was no longer there, of course, and had probably spent the final hours with her family, like I had.
I turned to see my uncle and aunt, and band of four young cousins, moving toward me. “I take it your parents are awake?” Uncle Vance asked me.
I nodded, giving him a watery smile. “Of course.”
“Okay, we’re going to say goodbye and then join you downstairs.”
I watched them move away for a second and then turned to continue down the stairs.
When we reached the entrance hall, many people had already spilled outside. Anticipation and tension stretched around the crowd like a rubber band. They stood around the platform, holding their children’s hands, and watching the sky for the arrival of aircraft.
I spotted Robert and Rosalie standing with their families and felt a moment of relief for my friend. At leasthewouldn’t have to go through this. He was the youngest of five siblings.
I set Bea on the ground, as she had spotted one of her friends—Rosalie’s youngest sister—and looked around for Jessie and her family. I couldn’t see them anywhere yet, so I concluded they were probably still in the building, making their way out.
Zina and Nico were already down here, standing nearRobert, though I was surprised to see my cousin. I’d been under the impression that she still wasn’t feeling well. When I gave her a questioning look, she smiled faintly.
“I’m going to see what jobs I can take on. I’m feeling better today, and the baby’s still a tiny bump,” she explained, taking my hand. “We have to start saving up not only for ourselves, but also to help my parents out with my four siblings.”
