A Bitter Homecoming
Posted on Tue Dec 10th, 2024 @ 5:38pm by Captain Malcom Llwyedd & Ensign Emilynn Dove
1,140 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
Interlude 1 Gamma Quadrant
Location: San Francisco
Timeline: 15 years in the past
[ON]
(15 years in the past - San Francisco)
The ancient tree was a dense lush green canopy located in the southeast corner of the park. It’s branches a multi-tiered sprawling network of various sized limbs which provided the perfect amount of shade for those who chose to sit under it. And a great hiding place for those who wished not to be found. It had been nearly 20 minutes and he still hadn’t found her. She knew she liked this game.
She sat high upon a limb, her body pressed against the bark of the trunk. Her eyes were all that was visible from below. She had watched him pass by her more than 3 times now, and each time she giggled all the more when he walked away to continue his search.
“Emilynn…Emi where are you? Cmon this isn’t funny anymore. We have to go!” He looked around aimlessly.
“I’m not doing more chores because you make us late again. You know Dad is home today and we will be in so much trouble if we are late. Now show yourself and let's get home.”
His words fell on deaf ears. Her dad might not be pleased they were late but she knew his anger would quickly dissipate the minute he laid eyes on them, or rather her. She knew things were always harder for Calvin and her father but never understood why. It had been a year since their dad had been home and she began getting excited at the thought of seeing him.
Emilynn watched her brother approach the tree once more. She could tell by the expression on his face this time he was not at all pleased with her. She began to feel bad for taking the fun out of the game. After all, he was older and was only appeasing her by playing in the first place. Perhaps she had taken it a bit far.
“I’m here,” she called down from above. She watched as he looked up into the dense foliage puzzled.
“Here, silly.” She continued and shook a nearby branch so he could see where she was at.
“What? How in the world did you get up there?!” He yelled out in alarm.
She giggled loudly with pleasure as she started climbing down.
“Emi, wait. No stop!”
His warnings came too late. Suddenly there was a loud crack of one of the branches, the very branch Emilynn was standing upon. She reached out for anything as she began falling. Her hand found a branch which slowed her fall, but only slightly before it too snapped and she continued her prompt descent from the spot she had earlier thought to be the perfect hiding place.
His quick reaction time was not enough to reach her before she landed squarely on the ground with a loud thud. She cried out in pain. Tears quickly filled her bright green eyes. She was all of 7 years old, him 13. He knew immediately she was hurt. He crouched down beside her and pulled her to him in a gentle hug.
“I’m here. It’s okay. You’re okay.” He said half praying it was true. When her sobbing subsided he examined her. There was a large gash on her cheek that bled slightly, otherwise he only observed minor abrasions to the rest of her.
“My arm Cal. My arm hurts really bad.” She said and began to cry again as she held it tightly.
“We need to get home so mom can look at you. Can you stand?” he asked gently. She looked up at him and nodded. He helped her to her feet. “Does it hurt to stand?” He asked.
“Not really.”
He took his over-shirt off and created a makeshift sling for her arm. He positioned it and tied it in the back.
“Cmon, we need to get you home.” He grabbed her other hand and began walking.
Emilynn paused and Cal looked down at her.
“Cal?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know. Cmon” he said pulling her forward. He thought what he was going to do when they got home. He knew he would be to blame for this entire ordeal. He was to be watching her after all. How had he allowed her to climb such a tree would not be well received by his father. He was supposed to be the responsible one, the protector, the man of the house. There would be no excuses that would get him out of this. Her arm was likely broken, and that he knew would make matters even worse. He still hoped she would be okay. He hated seeing her cry. He enjoyed watching her be the kid he felt he never got to be.
(12 minutes later - Dove residence, San Francisco)
“Daddy!” Emilynn said immediately forgetting about her pain and sprinting in the direction of his waiting arms. He stopped her short of the hug and gently grabbed her by the waist to stop their embrace.
“What happened to you?” He questioned.
Emilynn’s mom looked over at the sound of her husband's question. She saw the sling holding Eli’s arm. “Oh no. What happened?”
Cal swallowed and began to speak the explanation he had been rehearsing the entire way home. “We were at the…”
“We were playing.” Emilynn interrupted. “It was fun. It was my idea. I made him close his eyes and count so I could hide. I guess I went a little too high and I fell. But I’m okay. My arm just hurts a little.” She explained looking down at it trying to not cry.
“Where did you fall from?” Her dad questioned.
“It was just a small tree. It’s okay.” She answered.
“Emi come here. Let me look at you.” Her mom demanded.
Emilynn looked up at Cal and then complied with her mother's demands.
Cal looked over at his father. “Sir, welcome home.”
“Son.”
A long awkward silence filled the room.
“It’s good to see you Dad.” Cal finally said breaking the silence.
“Yes. It’s good to be home. Cal, you need to realize she’s too young to know her limitations. It’s up to you to help her learn right from wrong. You should have been watching her even if she didn’t know you were. I trust you will learn from this?”
“Yes, sir.” Cal answered.
“I’m going to go check on them. Why don’t you get the table set. Your mom cooked a nice dinner for us.
“Yes sir.”
Cal stood with mixed feelings in the middle of the room alone. He couldn’t decide if he was happy his father was home.
[OFF]
Ensign Emilynn Dove
Operations Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298
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