A saying that's never been recited but holds ultimate truth is, the greatest miracles come in the darkest hours. Harmonic would discover this during one fateful day. Upon arriving in the park with his wife, Atmospheric, and their two fraternal twin children, Melodic Death and Hard Core, he and the love of his life took a set on a nearby bench while their young saints played. Atmospheric was no fool. She could see the bitter clenching of his teeth; a habit he developed when the twisted memories returned, and they returned often.
"Honey, are you okay?"
"Trying to be."
"Talk to me."
"I don't want to put any more on you than I already have."
"That's why I'm here, remember?"
"Have you ever felt physically sick when you get to a low enough point?"
"No. What's it feel like?"
"Like I've been strapped down to a torture table and force-fed flesh. The same kind of fear rushes through me. In my case, I would probably argue the analogy is preferable. At least I wouldn't have any misguided hopes or expectations."
"Were you disillusioned?"
"Not exactly. Everywhere I went, I hoped it would be better than the last place. It never really turned out that way."
"Do you remember in the hospital when I asked you what the worst thing you ever saw was?"
"Yeah."
"Something I should've asked was what was hurting you on a daily basis."
"Everything. I just kept thinking 'why is all this horrible crap even remotely permissible', you know what I mean? I couldn't help but question the way things were working."
"Is there anything new bothering you since then?"
"There's one thing."
"What is it?"
"My mom."
"Your...Mom?"
"You couldn't see the spite and contempt in her eyes?"
"I guess in the heat of the moment, I got caught up in my own reunion."
"She tried to play it off, but I knew after just seeing her what kind of individual she really was; angry and miserable, ready to take it out on everyone at a moment's notice."
"A small moment really can tear down a bright blue sky, can't it?"
"I guess so."
Harmonic exhaled softly and slowly.
"If anyone hears me in this lifetime, hopefully they'll have at least some shred of compassion..."
The last barricade holding his emotions in check crumbled to nothing and scattered away. Tears were shed once more, but much quieter this time. Atmospheric grabbed onto her husband, clinging to him in his hour of need. He buried his face in her chest, trying to pull himself together.
"I was so hesitant to bring them into the world. I didn't want them to see how unfair it was."
"The kids?"
Harmonic nodded in response.
"The only real description I've ever heard about life is that it's a short, brutal ride from nowhere to nothing. Ashes to ashes and dust to dust."
"I have a much different philosophy. The body dies, but I think the soul lives forever. There's too much energy to be contained in a lifetime. It's all gotta' go somewhere. I'm actually surprised you don't share my view."
"I guess I never really thought of it that way."
"It's something to consider."
"Yeah..."
Atmospheric ran her hoof through the back of Harmonic's mane.
"I really appreciate you looking out for me all this time. I know it hasn't been easy."
"I couldn't just walk away and leave you behind. What kind of friend would I have been?"
"I wouldn't have held it against you. If anyone heard the way we talk, I sound very manipulative when I don't mean to. I just can't stand the thought of losing you guys. You're all I've got left."
"Look at me."
Atmospheric moved her mane from her eyes.
"If I thought you were manipulating me, I would've kicked you out before we even had any kind of bond. You trusted me right off the bat because I was the only one who hadn't destroyed your belief in good. I'm well aware of that fact now."
"Why did you trust me in return?"
"Because of what I saw in our old photos. The genuine nature may have changed into something unfortunate, but it was still there."
"You knew I wouldn't hurt you?"
"Why would you confront me directly if that's what you wanted? It just doesn't add up."
"If there's anything I've ever been grateful for, it's your faith. At the very least, it spared me from an early death."
"But you're still comfortable with the idea of your own death."
"I wish I wasn't. Longing for the grave only drains my energy and makes me feel like I failed you."
"It's okay. I know you're weary. As long as you keep trying, that's all I want."
"I promise you I won't give up until my time is here."
"I believe in you."
The spouses shared a slow, gentle kiss. Even though their conversation would seem unusually analytical from an outside perspective, their motions told the real story. Someone nearby noticed these motions; someone very familiar.
Melodic got sleepy after a few hours of playing. Even though she had notable amounts of energy, she was much calmer than most children. Compared to her brother, however, she seemed limitless. He was always the quiet and collected one; almost like a zombie. That demeanor masked an extremely deep understanding of the world. When Melodic decided it was time to call it a day, they met up with their parents at the bench.
"Daddy, can we go home? I'm tired."
"What do you think, mommy?"
"I think that sounds good."
Harmonic lifted his daughter and held her close to him.
"What do you want to fall asleep to, sweetheart?"
"7 angels 7 plagues."
"I always liked the messages on Jhazmyne's Lullaby," Atmospheric mentioned.
"Me too," Harmonic agreed, giving his wife a warm smile. She reciprocated the feeling.
"Daddy," their son said.
"What is it, buddy?"
"I saw you and mommy..."
Harmonic went silent for a moment.
"Me and daddy will talk with you after we put your sister to sleep, okay?"
"Okay, mommy."
Harmonic stood up and boosted Melodic onto his head. They walked quietly home as the rain started falling.
Melodic was tucked into her bed with the music lulling her to sleep at low volume. There was an inherent beauty to the heavy sound when it was quieted. Harmonic and Atmospheric gently closed the door behind them when they left the room. They reunited with their son in the lower room.
"Can we go outside, buddy? I think some fresh air might help."
"Okay, daddy."
The three remaining family members stepped out. The rain was pouring at this point. Harmonic exhaled softly again.
"I'm so sorry," he said to his son, "Daddy was a little crazy and needed mommy's help."
"Is grandma bad?"
Harmonic was stunned to learn just how observant their child had been. The sadness in his voice came flooding back.
"No...No, buddy. Grandma's just got her own problems, like daddy."
"We're so sorry you had to hear that," Atmospheric apologized, "Sometimes things are hard. When bad stuff happens, it can change someone. It changed both your grandma and daddy."
"Daddy...Can you tell me what happened?"
"I don't know..."
"Do it, honey."
"Are you sure?"
Atmospheric nodded.
"Come sit next to daddy, buddy."
Hard Core did as he was asked.
"Grandma and Grandpa had to leave mommy and daddy behind when we were little. For a long time, I didn't know why. I didn't find out until a couple weeks ago, actually. I was really sad about it, but I couldn't be mad at them. Daddy saw a lot of people get hurt when I was growing up. I got really mad at myself because I couldn't do anything. One of them was a girl a little older than you and your sister. She hurt herself so bad that she...didn't make it."
"What's that mean?"
"She's sleeping forever now."
"Sleeping forever?"
"Yeah. She can't walk, talk, eat, or do anything we do anymore."
"Not eating is bad."
"She doesn't really need to eat anymore. When we go to sleep forever, we don't need to do the things we do now."
"Will I go to sleep forever too?"
"A long time from now, but me and mommy will make sure you live the best life you can."
"Will you go to sleep forever?"
"Yeah. Everyone will someday."
"Why does that make you sad?"
"Because when someone stops being around, we can't laugh and play with them anymore. Even if we don't know them, it's still hard to accept they're gone."
The rain continued to fall, drenching the earth in the tears of angels.
"Daddy?"
"Hm?"
"Will you and mommy leave us behind like grandma and grandpa?"
"No. Never."
"I think it's because they left us behind that you and Melodic were born," Atmospheric told Hard Core.
"Really?"
"Uh-huh. Mommy and daddy might not have loved each other if I never had to help him. In a way, I'm glad they did what they did. Without that happening, we might not have you here right now."
Harmonic hugged his son in another act of uncontrolled emotion.
"Mommy and daddy will always be right here, buddy. No matter what you see or feel, we're here for you. Daddy has everything in the world because I have you guys. I want you to grow up to know what that's like."
"Can you stop the weird things I see?"
"I can't stop them from being here, but if they ever try to hurt you guys, I promise you, they'll wish they didn't."
"I love you, daddy..."
"I love you too, buddy; very much. You, your sister, and mommy. I'll always love you. Even if daddy gets sad, seeing you guys every day and knowing I have something worth living for will keep me going. I hope you'll get to feel the same way when you're all grown up."
"I will."
"I told you so," Atmospheric said.
"What do you mean," Harmonic replied.
"At one point I said you'd make a great dad. You proved my prediction from the day they were born."
"That means more to me than you'll ever know."
"I can make an educated guess."
Harmonic cracked a smile.
"Fair enough."
"I'm sleepy now, daddy," Hard Core yawned.
"Come on. Let's get you tucked in."
Their son lied across his father's back. His mother gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Mommy, that tickles!"
"Don't you know? We're supposed to tickle our kids. It's an unwritten rule."
"You guys are nuts."
"Says the guy with two diagnosed disorders."
"Alas, I have been defeated by sound logic."
The family laughed and headed inside where their final member was already resting.
Harmonic tucked his and Atmospheric's son into his own bed. the rain pelted against the window while the radio continued its softened onslaught of emotional screams and heavy instruments.
"Me and mommy will be downstairs if you need us."
"Can you stay here until I fall asleep?"
"Sure."
"I'll see you downstairs, honey."
"Okay."
Atmospheric left the room, giving Harmonic the chance to bond with their youngest child.
"Daddy, how come mommy and me spend more time together than me and you?"
"Your sister reminds me of your mommy, and you remind mommy of me. It's like we have each other around wherever we go, but I get what you mean. How about we set aside some time for me and you to just hang out for a while?"
"Yeah."
"Alright. Sounds like a plan."
Hard Core snuggled up with his blanket and slowly drifted off to dreamland. Harmonic leaned over and kissed his son, just as his mother had done only minutes before.
"Sweet dreams..."
"How is he?"
"The best he's ever been. I'm gonna' spend some time with him soon. You and Melodic should set up a date too."
"I agree."
"I'm exhausted. I think I'm gonna' call it a day too."
"I'm really proud of you."
"Thanks."
"Do you want to cuddle?"
"I'd better. I've got the most beautiful woman in the world. Can't let her float back to heaven yet."
"You charmer, you."
They lied together on their shared bed. Harmonic wrapped his foreleg around her and nuzzled his snout into her upper back.
"Thank you for giving me all this."
"I'm glad to help."
"If I'm dreaming already, don't wake me up."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
"If you're trying to make me love you more, it's working."
"I can only imagine how much you'll adore me when we're old and senile."
"Hopefully I'll forget everything so I can meet you all over again for the first time."
"Hopefully the kids will laugh about it. I don't want them to feel like we don't care anymore."
"I think they'll be okay."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"If you believe, then I will too."
"I'll see you again when I open my eyes."
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
They shared one more gentle, caring kiss before falling asleep, Harmonic holding his wife close as the world went a calming shade of black.
