LEON KARSTARK — district seven [complete]

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It's okay little bird, you don't need to cry anymore. Everything is okay, you may sleep now. She used to soothe him back to sleep after his father died. The man's death haunted the little boy's thoughts for the months to come. He could see him everywhere, in his dreams, his reflection, and his mother's eyes. He could feel the pain when she smiled at him, he could see how hard she tried to stay strong for him.

She used to hum lullabies of life and love to him, she imitated existence himself. It was an unbroken silence whenever she spoke, the little boy latching onto every word she uttered. One time it was different, she spoke one with a somber dismal tone. It was one of loss. He could see how it pained her to speak, he could feel it on her lips. He didn't want her to be in pain, he vowed that he would do anything to make her feel joy again.

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"You look so much like him, you know," her voice is calm, an unplagued ballad. He looks at her, a sad smile on his face. He made good of his promise he made to make her happy again. He did everything in his power to see joy on her face again. Now here he stands, with scruffy black hairs lining his jaw and the edges of his face.

"You have his eyes, darker than the bruises he used to come home with. He was a great fighter, your father, but that didn't help him did it?"

She gestured for him to move closer, wrapping his big frame in an ardent embrace. She snuggled her nose into the crook of his neck and spoke, "I love you, you've gone through so much more than you needed to. Your father will always be here to watch over you." Then she started to sing a lullaby, the one about loss.

"There must be Borrowed Angels,

here in this life
They come along, into this world,

and make this world bright
But they can't stay forever
Cause they're heaven sent
And sometimes, heaven needs them back again"

He can feel her breath on his neck, and then it's gone. Her final breath, gone like that. The lullaby was her swan song, her final message to him telling him to be strong. He holds her in his arms, her body lifeless and abandoned by a heartbeat. Silent tears pour down his face, hands clenched against her body. There was a polarity between them, her body pale and lifeless and his dark and alive.

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The moon's luminescence coruscates the boy, now a man. Two years it has passed since his mother drew her last breath. Everything went by so quickly, whisked away to his Aunt's and sent back into the workforce and the school. He felt he didn't have a chance to truly get over her death. His Aunt tried, but she could never replace his mother in his heart.

He stares into the darkness, tenebrous bags under his eyes from all the sleepless nights. His hands are drifting through the dirt, collecting onto the rough skin. The stars are bright tonight, illuminating his hair, causing a mirage of black and blue on his fixed brown locks. He hums as he watches the galaxy, a lullaby.

("there must be borrowed  angels")

In his heart, he feels as it is his fault that she is not here anymore. He promised to make her better, but she died.

("here in this life")

It was his duty to protect her after his father died but she faded away all the same.

("they come along into this world")

His aunt told him he had to grow up to fast, that he never got to have a childhood. She used to sit by him when he crawled onto the roof. She didn't force him to talk, but she made sure he listened.

("and make this world bright")

She was a tenderhearted woman, always wanting the best for everyone. "You had so much pressure on you. You deserve to be happy too." Then she left him on the roof, still staring out into space.

("but they can't stay forever,

cause they're heaven sent")

Happiness is a beautiful thing, an fragile fortune. The rich might rule the world but joy is the only thing making life worth living in.

("and sometimes heaven needs them")

He doesn't want to be happy until he can fulfill the promise he
made to his mother that night, he believes that he doesn't deserve
happiness until he attain his vow.

("back again")

lyrics: wolves - selena gomez

lullaby lyrics: borrowed angels - kristin chenoweth