THE EVER-CHANGING VEIW

The outside world was unknown to her, but she could see a glimpse of it through the window in his room. She leans forward and plumps the pillows behind her the best she could before falling back into them with a huff. Sweat trickles from her brow and she marvels at how everything is a chore now while she massages her swollen belly. She kicks the sheets off her legs and lifts Husband's checkered shirt up past her breasts hoping to cool down a bit. She's been on bed rest for a week now; the baby will be coming very soon. She doesn’t mind it though; she loves it up here. Upstairs in the attic where Husband and the Chosen sleeps, is where she gets to look through the only window in the house and marvel at the Outside. She lifts a finger and traces the circular shape of the window at the very top of the far wall, right under the arch of the vaulted ceiling. It grants her the ever-changing views of what lies beyond all that she's ever known. She was born in this house and its interior is her whole world. The three stories of her universe hold the first floor where they all cook, eat meals together, have classes taught by Husband and gather for Ceremonies and family events. The second floor is where they all sleep and bathe, share loud secrets and whispered fights. And the third floor, where you can only go if Husband deems you worthy and only the Chosen is allowed to sleep. She feels safe here, it is what she knows. The Outside is no longer a place that can be inhabited without wings. But since she became the Chosen this new circular world outside of her own has begun to call to her. Right now, the Outside is day and a clear light blue color. If she watches for long enough, little white wisps will lazily drift by and if she was really lucky, a bird would fly past. Her eyes sweep over the room's dark wooden walls and lighter colored floor. A large carpet with a pattern of roses and swirls takes up most of the floor, starting from the wrought iron bed and ending at the large wardrobe directly under the window. Husband’s large bed is pushed into the corner against the wall and parallel to the bed are the stairs leading to the second floor. But on the other side of those stairs next to the desk, are her easel and stacks of paintings. She sighs as she looks at her painting of the brown bird that roosted in the window earlier that summer. She keeps it always propped on her easel, although the memory of waking up to its noises from the Outside are still fresh in her mind. She went from painting every view she could capture of the Outside through that circular window, to every movement of that little brown bird. Never had she felt happier than when she had been capturing the images of that bird’s journey as a mother. From creating the nest, laying the eggs and feeding the baby birds, to teaching them to fly and eventually flying off with them.

Tears had soaked her cheeks for days when she realized they didn’t plan to return. She had even captured the slow disappearance of the left-over nest, carried off by the wind piece by piece. Rubbing small circles on her swollen belly, her eyes close against that blue world allowing her imaginings to take form. Husband's bed is her nest, and she will soon lay her egg and fly into the Outside to collect food for her baby and then one day soon her and her baby will fly o-- Her eyes fly open as the heavy sounds of footsteps start up the stairs. She pulls down Husband's shirt and quickly shimmies the sheets close enough to her hand to pull them back up her legs and over her torso seconds before Husband’s head peeks over the landing. Husband catches her eyes and smiles softly at her as he finishes his decent with a tray in his hands. Smiling back at Husband her eyes greedily take him in, his tall lightly muscled frame, his checkered shirt showing the breadth of his chest and shoulders, tucked into his jeans covering his strong legs. His long wavy brown hair, greying at the temples, frame his handsome face that boast a sharp jaw, full lips, a straight nose and bright grey eyes framed by long lashes. He balances the tray in one hand as he pulls the chair next to the head of the bed around and sits down while gently resting the tray next to her leg. He brushes a calloused hand over her forehead and wild dark curls while smiling down at her.

"How are you feeling Stephanie?"

She blushes, "I am well Husband, thank you for asking."

His smile grows wider. "Good, very good, I'm glad Stephanie." His eyes roam over her as his hands move to caress her belly. "Are you excited for tomorrow?" he asks.

Stephanie smiles and shrugs, "It’s just another birthday Husband."

"Yes, but this year while you turn a year older, you will be celebrating with a new life within you." he replies smiling down at her belly.

Stephanie looks down as well. "I guess I never thought about it like that." she says smiling softly.

"Have you thought of a name yet?" he asks with a lopsided grin. "You can't call the baby little bird forever."

Stephanie giggles before sighing with a smile. "I don't know..." she says as her eyes move to the window. "I couldn't name it... Outside... could I?" she asks hesitantly. Husband's smile falters as he looks up at the window. He looks down at her and quietly stares into her eyes. Stephanie holds her breath unsure of how he will react or what his response would be; his expression is unreadable. He brushes back her hair again and she stops herself from flinching. He looks back up at the window and sighs before looking back into her eyes.

"What about Sky?" he asks.

"Sky?" Stephanie asks perplexed. "What does Sky mean? I've never heard that name before." Husband smiles to himself in that way he does whenever any of us asks him a question only he knows the answer too. "Well, it's my nickname for the Outside. It's what I thought of the first time I saw it as a boy."

"Oh!" Stephanie exclaims in wonder, trying to picture Husband as a small boy. Glancing through the window, a little smile touches her lips at the thought of how special her baby would be with a name created by Husband to describe her favorite place. "Skkyy..." she says again trying it out before smiling down at her belly. "Hi Sky." she croons as she places a hand next to Husband's. "I am your mother and tomorrow we will celebrate my seventeenth birthday." She looks up at husband and he leans over and kisses her tenderly. Stephanie blushes profusely and Husband grins down at her.

"Well now that we have given Sky her name, let’s give you your meal."

Stephanie nods happily in agreement and Husband helps prop her up so that she can eat comfortably. Stephanie picks up her vegetable sandwich and scarfs it down before taking her vitamins and drinking her sweet tea. "All done!" she exclaims excitedly to Husband who had moved across the room to look through her older paintings of the Outside at night.

"Those are my favorite." he says as he moves back to his chair. "I never get tired of looking at them." he smiles as he sits down. Stephanie blushes and looks away from his intense gaze.

"All done." she repeats shyly before looking back up. Husband smiles down at her before reaching into his front shirt pocket and pulling out a cloth wrapped treat. Stephanie squeals and puts out her cupped hands. He chuckles while giving them to her then leans back in his chair. Stephanie opens the cloth to reveal three sugar cookies that are soft and still warm. She takes her time eating them savoring the sweet treats that melt in her mouth as Husband watches. She pouts when they’re done but smiles as she hands him back the cloth. "Thank you, Husband." she sighs happily as she nestles back into her pillows massaging her belly.

"You’re very welcome, Stephanie." he says as he brushes crumbs from her lips. He stands and leans down to kiss her forehead. "I'll send up the Wives to help you down for the bathroom." Stephanie smiles and nods her drowsy head. He tucks a wayward curl behind her ear before grabbing the tray and retreating downstairs. Stephanie looks through the window at the Outside as she waits for the Wives. "Tomorrow it will be my birthday," she whispers to Sky, rubbing her belly. "And then soon you will be born, and I will become a Wife too. Then I promise we will fly off as well, just like that mother bird and her babies did. Just for a little while though, and then we will come back and tell Husband and the other Wives and my sisters everything we saw. Wouldn't that be nice?" Stephanie stretches and yawns before drifting to sleep under the shifting light, from the ever-changing view of the Outside.