Lissa's Childhood Lessons: Everyone Changes

Posted on Tue Jul 16th, 2024 @ 9:21am by Lieutenant JG Daisheliss "Lissa" Kerr

Mission: WHAT IF?
Location: Earth, Starfleet Medical Rehabilitation Facility
Timeline: 2374, Lissa 9 years old
684 words - 1.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Jonathan Kerr was finally back on Earth after barely surviving when the Dominion destroyed the Starfleet vessel he'd been serving on. He'd been lost for weeks before a recovery vessel finally found him and several others. Nine year old Lissa was only allowed to see him for a brief few minutes before she was taken to stay with her great-great-grandmother for the next few weeks while her father went through the worst of his recover.

The half-Orion girl greeted her Human father wearing a long sleeve yellow and white dress with her red hair tied into soft pigtails. Her father, still weak, mustered up a smile for his beautiful daughter. "Hello, sunshine. You light up my world, you know that right?" He said softly, his warm hazel eyes sparkling with love for his daughter.

Lissa smiled. "I know, Daddy. That's why I dressed like the sun today. So you'd remember I was your sunshine." Lissa did a twirl, showing off her dress for her dad, clad in white sneakers with yellow socks that matched her dress.

"I would never, ever forget that, sweetheart. You'll always be my sunshine. It's okay, you can come here," Jonathan nodded to Lissa's mother. Runa helped Lissa up onto the hospital bed, and Jonathan put his left arm around her shoulders and drew her in for a hug, his body still stiff.

"I love you, Lissa. I'm so glad you came today." Jonathan kissed her forehead near her temple.

"I love you too, Daddy," Lissa said looking at her father with with wide eyes. "I knew you were okay. I told Mom you'd be coming home."

Runa smoothed the stray hairs back from Lissa's face. "Yes you did say that didn't you," Runa said encouragingly - though her tone was more that of an adult humoring a child than that of sincerity. "The doctors need more time with you father, Lissa," Runa reminder her. "It's time to say goodbye for now. I'll bring you back for another visit soon, okay?"

Lissa felt like crying, but she had promised herself and her mother that she would be brave and that she wouldn't cry today. "Yes ma'am," Lissa said nodding seriously.

Lissa looked at her father in the eyes with a serious expression and pursed lips. "Mom said you need extra rest and time with the doctors so that you will get better faster, so you should do what they say, Daddy. Promise."

Jonathan fought back his own tears as he nodded back at his young daughter and repeated back to her, "Promise."

Lissa carefully wrapped her arms around her fathers neck and whispered, "I love you so much, Daddy. Get better so we can be together again."

"I will honey, I promise," Jonathan responded. He was able to lift a hand to pat her back, but the interaction was taking a lot out of him. Runa gave him a knowing look and lifted Lissa out of the bed and walked her toward the door. Lissa's grandmother was there waiting and took Lissa's hand and started to escort her out.

When Jonathan thought that Lissa was out of earshot he looked to his wife, "I don't want her to have memories of me like this. She's too young."

Runa placed a comforting hand on Jonathan's arm and nodded knowingly. Runa had been Lissa's age when she'd been kidnapped from her own parent's home never to see them again, Runa's sister, even younger. "I know honey, but she can handle more than you think. It kills her to be away from you."

In the hallway with her Great-Great-Grandmother Donnie, Lissa stopped walking suddenly bringing them both to a stop. She turned to look up at her grandmother, a look on Lissa's face suggesting wisdom far beyond that than a 9 year old in pigtails should possess. "Dad isn't ever going to be the same is he, Grandma?"

Donnie regarded her granddaughter for only the briefest of moments before she nodded. "No, probably not, but that's okay. People are always changing, Lissa. Sometimes it's just more noticeable than others, and change isn't always bad."