The Mother of All

by Dana S Reiner

  I began setting out fruits and berries, so the food would be visible to the baby creature in case I didn’t wake. I kissed the baby creature. Its breathing pattern made it look like my internal organs were moving.

  I had always wanted a sibling. My parent’s busy schedule always seemed to prevent them from having another child, which is why they bought me Àna at a young age.

  A part of me felt this baby creature was the sibling I always wished for as a child. I could hear and feel it breathing. I wanted to name the creature but wasn’t sure if it already had a name. I thought about my passion for science and chemistry. Names like Lewis, Joule, Kelvin, and Beaker. I contemplated names as I began grabbing one of the unique fruits.

  I used the straps of my research pack to harness myself to one of the dead roots of the fruit tree, to assure I wouldn’t drown. Then I laid back. My chest was still exposed and uncovered by water. I didn't want to get the creature wet.

  Before I cracked the fruit on the floor of the cave, I took the remaining samples of DNA and emptied them into the pool. I knew they would otherwise die. I wanted so dearly to believe that this hot spring was possibly another missing link to science and that it would aid in the possibility of keeping these cells alive. One by one I removed the caps of the remaining samples, doing what I could to not rupture each cell’s membranes. Once I finished emptying all the cells into the pool, I began eating my third fruit.

  Although I was scared, I had a sense of confidence that everything was going to be okay. I began to cry tears of joy as I thought about what had taken place within the last week.

  The warm pool provided a sense of comfort. I began lightly rubbing the baby creature as the effects of the fruit began to make me drowsy and hallucinate. I kissed it softly.

  As I said goodnight to the baby creature, I finally thought of a name. I began to speak out loud.

  “Goodnight, mama. Good night, papa,” I said out loud as I began to fall asleep. I could feel the cave beginning to shake. I glanced at the baby creature one last time. “Good night, Atom,” I said as I kissed it and fell asleep.