There were two little girls with him, about five and six. He came up to the girl's mother and she looked at him oddly. "It's time for you to go to bed," he remarked. "Your husband wants you to bring these two home when you return. It's all arranged. They speak your language, though with a bit of an accent. Their family was tragically killed. They're the only survivors. They have no one."
The littlest girl came up and laid her head on the woman's knees. "I'm tired, mother!" she moaned. "Can we go to bed? Everything was so hectic today. You look so nice! Can we go to bed?"
The woman looked to her daughter who was smiling joyously, then she, too smiled. "Yes, dear! she answered, "We can go to bed. What's your name?"
"I'm Rita!" the little girl answered. "My sister's Sarah. We were named after my mother's friends. They were killed with her. We were across the street at the neighbor's. We heard a bang and the windows broke. When we looked towards our house it was gone, just gone! We've been so scared. Then he picked us up this afternoon and told us our new mother was going to take us home, and we weren't scared any more."
The woman had tears in her eyes. She rose, picking up the littlest one and taking the other one's hand. He led them away. "They're going to make her so happy!" the girl sighed. "She'll be so busy."
Her words fell off and she rose. Without a word she headed downstairs. The guard looked rather concerned when he noticed she wasn't handcuffed but let them in. Connie got her undressed and put a diaper on her. "Do I really need this?" the girl asked.
"It's best, dear. It's not too often there's a problem. It's just in case. Now," she reached for a nightgown, and the girl said,
"No, please?"
Connie smiled and led her to the bed. "Now, I'll cover you up," she explained "and I'll send for the guard. He'll bring in the container. I'll open it and attach the top. You have to take it! You can't resist."
"I will," the girl promised.
Connie got into her nightgown then pressed the buzzer. A few moments later the guard entered. He gave her the container and she quickly prepared it, then went over to the girl. The guard looked at the bed and whispered "No binders?"
"They're not needed," Connie answered. She knelt down, put the top in the girl's mouth, and pressed the button. She swallowed without hesitation. Connie handed the container back to the guard who turned.
"Sir?" the girl asked. "When I was frightened my father used to kiss me on the forehead and say 'Sweet dreams, princess!'" She stopped looking embarrassed.
The guard smiled, came around to the side of the bed, knelt down, kissed her on the forehead and whispered "Sweet dreams princess! Good night!" then quickly hurried out.
"I wish we could have some music!" the girl sighed.
"Well, I don't see why not!" Connie remarked. "You like classical? How's this?"
She activated her player's favorites list and began playing one of the most soothing pieces she knew of.
"Oh, that's perfect!" the girl sighed. "Boy! You really start to feel numb, don't you? Please keep me all night. Let me stay, please?"
"Of course," Connie assured.
The girl hesitated a moment and then asked "Would you take off your nightgown? I just want as much contact as we can have. I don't want anything between us."
Without hesitation Connie took off her nightgown and put it on the bureau and got in bed. They snuggled together and she felt her warmth. She could tell when she went to sleep and quickly followed. She didn't want to be awake when the end came.
She found herself in her room but it seemed more spacious. The girl was there, and, her sister and her daughter. They were playing a game, laughing and giggling. "Mother!" her daughter remarked, "Please show your age! You really look silly when you look like us."
The other two girls giggled. "Oh! Let her stay like that!" the oldest one teased. "Come on! Play with us!"
Connie joined them and for some time they just had fun. Then her daughter looked at her.
"It's time, mother," she sighed. "She's freely given me all that was left in her body. It's drained now. Or I've taken all I can anyway."
Connie nodded. They looked to the wall and a shimmering circle formed that got bigger and bigger. The oldest girl took her sister's hand. "Come on!" she coaxed. "I'm sure it's only going to hurt a little while. Then we can go play. Who knows? The next time we're born it might be when they're going to the stars. Wouldn't that be fun? I'll stay right with you until you're better."
"No!" her sister answered, "You will leave and you will go and you will be happy. And then when I'm ready they'll tell you to come and get me, but I do not want you to suffer with me. Please promise?"
Her sister sighed. "Yes, I promise!" she answered. "But come on! They're being very patient. It's time to go."
The two of them walked through the shimmering glow and it disappeared.
"That was a good one, mother!" Connie's daughter praised. "You really did a good job with that one. He's so