Literature Blurbs

Sacrifice… is betrayal. Selfishness.

“Take me instead.” You knew she would say that. You knew, you knew you knew

The words fell from her lips like waters to nurture the earth, but all they did was salt it. And you were left to fix the damage. Just like always, but this time… you couldn't.— You are kept small in her shadow. 

She beams with vitality— a paragon of all that your parents left when you both were tasked to nurture this vulnerable moon colony. You and her— well, mostly her— are what stands between life and desolation for this little moon. 

The warm bubble is small, and she captivates all in her midst. She's loud, brash, driven, righteous, but bull-headed, contrary, obstinate— easy to love, but not easy to like. 

She loves the people as you do, but… she does not heed them. Does not tend to their daily needs, like you do. It drains you, but... 

(544— once 542, but a pair of twins was born to Terces recently. The same woman who was once a babe in your arms, now grown and your heart aches. Your sister… she did not attend their ceremony.)

You… do not shine like your sister. A glow, you are, one that is welcome at night but dim in the morning. You are easy to like… but no one quite loves you the way they adore your sister.

You convince yourself it's alright. It has to be.

Until it isn't. 

The colony is vulnerable. You knew this, ever since  your parents left for war so long ago and never returned, but you thought… even now, you thought their protections would be enough.

The soldiers that come— you doubt their integrity. You know, you know they're searching, so you swear your sister to secrecy. 

Or at least, you try. How did they find out? How did they find out?

You're not even trained to hurt a fly. They take you, taunt you, but you choke back the fear. It's fine, it's fine, you're expendable, your sister is not, your people need her— 

“Take me instead.”

NO— 

You wake up. And gasp, and it's so cold so grey— you're not Airetsa, you're you, and now—. You peer up into her eyes. Tears coat her cheeks; she's holding you, this Second Sister, and her words— 

She sobs. "Finally, after 200 years… someone finally woke up."