Paper Lullaby

She reads the words from the bed warmth in the lamplight, her voice familiar to their foetus, muffled syllables relaying messages from Daddy, home in a year. His letters have crossed oceans to lull their unborn child, all the way from the chaos of roaring bombs and missiles. There’s no mention of these things in his letters, just his anticipation to hold his family. But she has decided that she will cradle and rock him. When he returns, while their baby sleeps, she’ll pat his back, and tell him everything will be okay. His turn to be soothed.  

Rebecca Klassen is co-editor of The Phare. Her work has been published in Shooter, Mslexia, Burningword, Ellipsis Zine, and performed on BBC radio. She has won the London Independent Story Prize.