What is your museâs earliest memory?
Faye sat on the bed, her sisters body curled up against her own, and for the first moment in a long time she felt at peace. It wasnât as if she had been holding her breath as so many authors enjoyed writing about. No, sheâd been breathing. Faye knew she was breathing and knew that she was stressed. These were all things she was aware of but here, with her sister, she could relax even if it was only for an hour. Nora was the first baby Faye had ever held. She thought back on the day she was born. Faye was just freshly three years old. She couldnât remember hardly anything before as clearly as she remembered the day of her sisters birth. Her parents were nervous to see how the other siblings would respond to yet another baby but not with Faye. There was just this thing about her, even so young, that proved she was a caretaker. So the day the baby was born, the day Nora came into the world, they didnât hesitate to let their youngest come into the room first.Â
âThis is your baby,â Fayeâs father stated with a soft whisper near her ear as the girl stood on the end of her mothers hospital bed, ravioli hands gripped to the side of the clear basinet that held the girl who would become one part of her whole world. Every one of her siblings after would change her for the better but Nora... she was something special. She was the first one to give Faye a purpose. Something, someone, besides her parents and elder siblings to live for. âYou will need to care for her and teach her how to be a brave and fearsome little thing just like you.âÂ
Faye was too distracted to argue. Then again, she never argued. She was one of those children who had learned that throwing a fit hadnât gotten her what she wanted. She was quiet, reserved, and observed. Faye reached out a finger to touch the infants nose. She needed to feel that the baby was real and not just pretend as the dolls she owned were. The girls little nostrils flared and a grunt of annoyance escaped the newest OâCallaghan. âMy baby.â Faye said softly.Â
âThatâs right, Faye.â Her mother said, a smile in the sound of her voice as well as on her lips. She had been the one to suggest bringing in Faye first, letting her adjust, and knowing that this was going to be a bond that was secured forever.Â
âWhatâs her name?â Faye asked, daring only for a second to look at her mother and look away from her new best friend. She saw her mothers face. She was happy, so happy, her eyes alight with a golden flame she only had on special occasions. There was an exhaustion in her as well. Having a baby was no doubt hard work which is why her hair was tied up in an elastic band, wet from the sweat of labour, and the color beneath her eyes had deepened. Faye looked back at her baby sister, blinking and trying to understand. Her parents had told her that the baby was in her mothers stomach but Faye just couldnât fathom how that worked. She was three, after all.
âWell,â Her father began, âWe thought that you might be able to help with that...â Faye turned to him shocked. âIf youâd like, of course. Your brother got to name you so we thought it was only right you get to help out.â
Faye had not known this, had not realized her brother Reed had named her or that their brother above them had named Reed, but there was only so much knowledge she could hold at the age she was. How did she think of a name? Her brother had been five when she was born so there was more room for thought, more world he had seen, what could Faye provide? Dorito and Apple were fine names for an animal but she knew no humans were named this. Then it came to her. A book they had read just a few weeks before with a girl at the center of the adventure. âNora.âÂ
âNora,â Her mother repeated.
âI really like that,â He father confirmed.
âThatâs a beautiful name, sweetie.â Fayeâs mother reached out and picked up the child with ease and held her to her chest. The toddler then crawled over to cuddle in close so she might be able to see her sister as well as her mother, âNora OâCalloghan.â She confirmed.
Faye smiled and slipped her hand into her sisterâs. This was her sister, her first younger sibling, and she was going to take care of her as best she could.Â
And so, she tried. Which is what led her to this moment, holding her sister after another heartbreak, and knowing that she would never leave her side. Nora was hers, forever and Faye was Noraâs. She stroked the others hair, curled and freshly washed, and settled a soft kiss to the top of her head. âHave I ever told you about how you got your name?â