Hush Little Baby

The sky is black. One day, I hope you won't believe it, like I didn't believe my mother when she told me about life before the internet (I never understood what they did for fun without it… now I understand all too well). You know, I was born in the midst of a global pandemic? Now my baby is being born during “the end of the world.” Yes, that's what they call it, even though we are still here, struggling, surviving. They say those born during trying times are meant for great things, I can only hope that is true. For both of our sakes. The sky is black and I don't know if we can fix it, but I know I'll try my best for you.

They tried to warn us, you know? But it was such a politicized issue, even though it should have just been as simple as saving the planet we live on. The politicians didn't want to ostracize voters, so nothing got done. And now the sky is black.

The sun has a hard time shining through, but it still does, thank anyone who's listening for small mercies. Otherwise we wouldn't be able to grow any food and temperatures would be even worse than they already are (though that seems impossible). Even so, all of the people with the money to afford it took off to the new colonies on Mars as soon as the scientists confirmed that the damage was too widespread to stop completely without radical change. They knew radical meant unlikely, and took off when they could.

Sometimes I hate them for it. For contributing to the problem and then leaving us to struggle with the effects of their actions. Other days I'm just numb to it all, going through the motions of living in these unprecedented times. More recently, I've been hopeful though, which is entirely your doing. You change everything, and I can't thank you enough for giving me the will to move forward and fight to restore what we lost.

I've joined a group of like-minded people, did I tell you? We're going to work hard, research what we can, and do our best to make the sky blue again. It won't be easy, but for you darling, it'll be worth it. It will be dangerous experimental work, considering all of the last ditch efforts that the world's best and brightest tried and failed to implement. We're not them, we don't have the scientific experience, but we do have the drive to fix this broken world we now live in. As I lean down to place a kiss on your newborn head, my heart locket dangles in front of my chest like a pendulum.

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Ten Years Later

You don’t often fall asleep in my arms like this anymore, trying to grab what independence you can I suspect. It’s been difficult on both of us, me having to homeschool you. But you’re so bright, and far smarter than I was at your age. I know if we can’t fix this, that you and the others of your generation are the only hope. And you, my brilliant child, make me think you could succeed where we have failed so far.

Well, I say we failed, that’s not entirely true. Our little group of ragtag climate fighters have made some serious improvements to the way we are handling the changes that came with climate change. Those masks you wear, the one that lets you go outside and play with the other neighborhood children for a while even with the poor air quality? It wasn’t our invention of course, but we found a way to make it accessible to everyone, and not just the people with enough money. We also figured out how to streamline the growing process for food, at least the foods that can survive in the intense heat and weather that grips the world now. No one is going hungry on our watch. Every one of us that was left here when the rich made their exodus is in this together, and I’ll be damned if we leave anyone behind.

But the sky is still black, and I don’t know if we will ever fix that. We’ve been able to halt the heating process on the Earth so nothing gets worse, and make sure everyone can survive in this seemingly inhospitable environment. With all of the progress we’ve made, progress no one thought we would make, fixing the sky seems to be less and less appealing of a goal for most people. However, I know that, for you, I will continue to try so that maybe someday you can see the blue sky of my childhood.

I don’t want to talk too long, in case I wake you up and disturb the peace that this moment brings both of us. Just know that I love you, I will always love you, and everything I do is for you my bright little star. Stroking your hair as your hand grips tightly to my locket, we both end up falling asleep on the couch that night.

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Eleven Years Later

"My beautiful baby girl, all grown up and getting married," I exclaim, fiddling with the locket around my neck. I've never taken it off since my mother gave it to me on my wedding day. It's a family heirloom, passed down through generations from mother to daughter on their wedding days. Since I've worn it everyday since my own wedding, this locket has become a part of me, just like I hope it will become a part of you.

"Here baby, you don't have to wear it with your dress, but it's time you have this" I carefully unclasp my locket and pass it along, or try to anyway, as you exclaim that you can't take my locket away from me, even on your wedding day. I reacted much the same way when I received the locket. After explaining the history of the locket, you seem much more willing to accept it.

With one arm around your shoulder, we both look down at this little locket that has seen so much in its lifetime. "This locket has seen depressions, world wars, multiple pandemics, and now 'the end of the world'" I sneer the last part, but you know how much I hate the public's moniker for the global warming disaster. "Now it's yours to take with you as you journey though life. I can't wait to see what wonderful things you do with it. I'm just sorry I couldn't make the sky blue for your wedding day baby."

At that, you look at me very seriously for a moment and then sigh. "Can I tell you something mom?" Always, I exclaim, you can always tell me anything you want!

"You've always been so obsessed with making things like they were, that you failed to see how they are. The sky may not be blue, but I was able to play outside, make friends, graduate top of my class, and meet the love of my life, all because of the progress you helped us make towards living with the world we humans created."

"I love you mom, but you don't have to make the sky blue for me, you just have to be here for me. That's all I've ever wanted. Just because things are different then they were when you were growing up doesn't mean they are inherently bad. You were so focused on the sky that you failed to see the billions of people you're hard work helped. We have the possibility of a bright future because of you. And this may be the 'end of the world' for those of you who were alive before things got so 'bad,' but for us, this is life. And we are so glad we get to live it the way your inventions allow us to."

I stand in stunned silence for a moment. I had no idea you felt this way, but from the elegant speech you just gave, I gather that this has been on your mind for a while. I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and then calmly open my eyes again. You look worried at my reaction, but you shouldn't be.

"Baby, I had no idea you felt that way, but you are right. I was so focused on my big, unattainable dream that I was blind to all of the progress right in front of me. Things may never go back to the way they were, but that's ok. As long as we're happy and healthy, that's all I can really ask for."

A knock at the door startles us out of our emotional moment, and my husband of twenty-five years enters the room. "You're not making our daughter cry on her special day I hope" Mark jokes, looking between our serious faces.

"I would never" I exclaim, reaching out to catch the both of you in a big hug. "Are you ready to go get married baby?" Your excited yes is the best sound I've heard all day.

So I may not have been able to make the sky blue again, and honestly no one may ever manage that feat. You've taught me an important lesson today though baby. Even in the most desperate of times, don't focus so much on the big picture that you lose sight of what's in front of you.