Chapter Text
Little Eden Kramer laid perfectly still beneath the covers; her small chest rising and falling in a shallow rhythm. The popcorn ceiling above her was a blank white canvas, but her wide, blue eyes traced invisible cracks that only she could see. She didn’t blink even once.
From the next room, voices arose like thunder. “YOU CAN’T KEEP DOING THIS TO HER, JOHN!” Jill’s words boomed against the wall. “Not to me either!”
A pause, then John’s lower rumble answered, steady; but edged with that familiar steel. “Keep your voice down…”
Their argument grew; words blurring into one another until the volume clawed impossibly higher. Eden’s fingers tightened on the edge of her blanket.
She turned slowly onto her side, the mattress creaking faintly beneath her tiny frame. Her gaze drifted to the closet door. It stood open a crack; a narrow black slit revealing nothing and yet everything at the same time.
In the dim outline, the shadows seemed to shift in her little mind. She could have sworn she saw broad shoulders… long, black, messy hair… the grotesque snout of a pig mask leering forward; its hollow eyes piercing into her tiny soul from the closet.
The little blonde girl’s heart caught in her throat. She slammed her hands over her eyes. Her body curling into a tight ball as soft, broken sobs shook her. On the floor beside the bed, her stuffed pig plush laid discarded; its stitched smile facing the wall, already forgotten.
In the master bedroom, Jill stood with her arms wrapped around herself, shoulders rigid. “I can’t take this anymore, John! She’s a baby!” Her voice cracked. “She wakes up screaming every night now, and it’s only a matter of time before she does again tonight!”
John sat on the edge of the bed, his breathing stiff; the oxygen mask resting on the nightstand like a patient predator. He looked at her with those calm, calculating blue eyes.
“Jill, if I may ask; if you are so unhappy with how I guide our daughter, why haven’t you left? You know I’d never stop you.” His shaky arms gestured towards the door. “It’s right there… it's been there… you know your consent has always been the most important thing to me since the day we met… what's stopping you?” A slight cough. “… Because it certainly isn’t me.”
The question hung heavy between them. Jill’s fists clenched. She wanted to scream, to throw something at him. But her feet stayed rooted. Her heart; the stupid, stubborn thing; twisted painfully at the thought. She had lost him once before. The idea of losing him again, especially when the man had so little time left on this earth; felt excruciating.
John simply nodded in response to her silence; as if he had just read her mind and knew the answer all along. “I think we should get some rest now, Jill.” He said calmly.
*************************
The next morning, sunlight filtered weakly through the kitchen windows. Jill had already left for the clinic; the house quieter without her. John sat at the table in his wheelchair, coughing into his fist before lifting the oxygen mask to his face with a slow, deliberate motion. The hiss of air filled the brief silence.
Eden poked at her cereal with a spoon, the colorful loops floating untouched. She had grown quieter since the maze; smaller, somehow. Her eyes kept darting toward the open doorway of her room, where the pig plush still laid on the floor like a threat. Each glance made her shoulders tense, her body shrinking back.
John watched her carefully. He saw the new fear.
Pigs.
The very symbol she was born into.
Unacceptable.
He reached for his flip phone and dialed.
“Amanda, I need you to drive me and Eden today. It’s a very important mission… Yes? Good. We’ll be ready. Thank you.”
Satisfied, he hung up and turned to his daughter, his voice gentle.
“Sweetheart, would you like to go on a road trip with me and Amanda?”
Her head lifted. “Twip?”
“Yes, a trip. To your grandparents’ farm. It’s been a while since you’ve seen them, hasn’t it?”
For the first time in days, a spark returned to her eyes. She nodded quickly, spoon clattering against the bowl. “TWIP!!!” John chuckled at his daughter’s adorable antics; running his fingers lovingly through her soft, blonde hair.
***********************************
The car hummed along the highway as Amanda drove with steady confidence. John sat in the passenger seat, occasionally adjusting his mask. In the back, Eden bounced in her booster seat; pointing excitedly at passing fields. “Outsigh so pwetty, Daddy!” She chirped.
“Yes, it’s a beautiful day, Eden. And this trip,” He continued. “Is going to be very important for your growth.” John said, turning slightly to look at her.
“Gwow like pwant?!”
He smirked. She was too cute. “Something like that. You will discover more about the natural world… and about yourself.”
Eden beamed. “GWOOOOW!” She shouted, kicking her feet excitedly. Amanda chuckled in the driver’s seat, taking John’s hand in her free one and squeezing it lovingly.
They finally arrived at the Tuck family farm as the sun climbed higher. The air smelled like earth, hay, and animal musk. Eden’s face lit up the moment she spotted her grandparents standing on the porch.
“Is that our little Eden Jill?!” Mrs. Tuck beamed, adjusting her sun hat and opening her arms wide for the small girl to race into them.
Eden bolted from the car the second Amanda unbuckled her carseat. “GAMMY!” She cried, launching herself into the aged woman’s arms.
Mrs. Tuck caught her with warm laughter; lifting her high. “Eden!!! Look at how big you’ve gotten!” Mr. Tuck soon followed behind his wife, ruffling Eden’s head.
Their smiles turned to confusion at the sight of this strange, unknown woman who unbuckled their granddaughter. Confusion turned to dread as the same woman carefully rolled John Kramer’s wheelchair out of the vehicle, with no sign of their daughter.
*********************
The Tuck family dining room had always smelled like coffee. Even as a little girl, Jill remembered that smell. Coffee in the mornings, coffee after church, coffee while her father read the newspaper and her mother clipped coupons at the kitchen table.
Nothing in the room had changed: The same floral wallpaper, the same scratches on the oak table where Jill had done homework growing up.
Only now; she sat there wearing an engagement ring. And neither of her parents had touched their coffees.
Mrs. Tuck stared openly at the diamond on her daughter’s finger. Mr. Tuck folded his newspaper slower than usual.
Jill was all too familiar with this type of silent treatment. It was the same silent treatment she got when she came home with her ears pierced at 16, and when she announced she was switching majors from pre-nursing to social work.
The silent treatment that always came right before trouble.
“So…” Mrs. Tuck finally broke it. “You two are serious?”
Jill smiled, despite her pounding heart, and held out her hand again. “Yes. Isn’t it beautiful, Mom?”
Neither parent smiled back.
Her mother’s expression tightened. Her father removed his glasses. “How old is Kramer again?”
Jill sighed immediately. “Dad…”
“No, answer the question.”
“You already know his age.”
“Humor me, Jill.”
The blonde rolled her eyes. “43. And why does that matter again? We’re adults.”
Her mother closed her eyes. “Honey...”
“Dad’s 62 and you’re 59!” Jill argued.
“A 3-year age gap is nothing compared to a 12-year one!” Mrs. Tuck snapped back.
Jill’s teeth clenched. “We’re happy. Shouldn’t that be enough?”
The old grandfather clock in the living room ticked as Mr. Tuck leaned back in his chair. “On the day you were born; if someone pulled me aside at the hospital and told me that one day, you were going to marry a man more than a decade older than you were-”
“Dad, just stop!”
“Jill Denise Tuck, do not raise your voice at me!” He exclaimed sternly. “You’ve known this man for what? A year?”
“His name is John, not ‘this man’, and I’ve known him for 2.” She crossed her arms defensively.
Mr. Tuck threw up his hands sarcastically. “Wonderful! That changes everything!”
Mrs. Tuck rubbed her temples. “Honey, we’re not trying to attack you-“
“Could’ve fooled me, Mom!” Jill spat in response, holding back tears.
“We just…” Her mother hesitated. “Honey, when you stand next to him…”
Jill’s nails dug further into her pits. “What?”
Mrs. Tuck looked uncomfortable. “… He looks like he could be your grandfather.”
The words hit like a punch. Jill’s chair scraped against the floor as she began to stand up. “Oh, my God-“
“I’m sorry, but it’s true! He looks older than your fathe-“
“IT IS NOT TRUE! You’re just saying that because you don’t like him!”
Mr. Tuck sighed. “Jill, sit down.”
“No!”
“Jill-“
“I won’t!” She remained, her heart hammered.
Mr. Tuck sighed heavily. “Baby, I just don’t trust him.”
Jill blinked and cocked her head. “What?”
“I don’t trust him.” Mr. Tuck repeated coldly.
“What do you mean?” She questioned further. “Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Her mother nodded immediately. “Neither do I.”
Jill stared between them. “That’s ridiculous.”
Mrs. Tuck looked defeated. “I know it sounds ridiculous-“
“Then why say it?” Jill clapped back.
Her mother twisted her wedding ring nervously. “Because every time he’s here, I feel…” She paused. “I don’t know… he’s very strange, Jill.”
“How is he strange?!”
“I mean… after he shakes our hands he just… stares….”
Jill frowned. “What, is this because he’s quiet?” She scoffed. “He’s a good listener, Mom. He studies people. He’s an incredible architect and engineer and-“
“And he gives us the goddamn heebie-geebies.” Mr. Tuck insulted. Mrs. Tuck grabbed her husband’s arm. “Ronald!”
Jill let out an incredulous laugh. “Jesus Christ-”
Her mother interrupted. “Darling, when he does talk, it’s like he’s trying to pick me and your father apart… like, he’s fishing for more things to know about us for… what purposes; I don’t know. I just don’t like it, Jill. He seems very manipulative.”
“He’s a very smart man Mom.” Jill said, tapping her foot anxiously. “Learning about people is a big part of his job, and I think it’s amazing how he can still do that outside of the workplace. It shows he actually gives a damn about people.” Tears rolled down her cheeks now. “And how dare you call him manipulative after all he’s done for me; pushing me to graduate on the nights I wanted to drop out, when most men would rather have their women barefoot and pregnant… building my dream clinic for me… I love him… and he loves me. And there’s nothing you can do about that.”
After a long and painful silence, Mr. Tuck stood first. He walked around the table.
For a second, Jill thought he might argue again.
Instead, he kissed the top of her head. “I hope we’re wrong.” He whispered before exiting the room.
Somehow, that hurt worse than yelling.
Mrs. Tuck stood next; pulling Jill into the hug her daughter needed since the conversation began. “Congratulations, darling. Okay? Congratulations.” The aged woman sniffled, tears burning hot behind her eyes.
Jill closed her own.
Because for the first time since John proposed…
For the first time…
A tiny, horrible part of her wondered if maybe her parents weren’t wrong.
And she hated herself for even thinking that.
***********************************
“Oh… hello, John,” Mrs. Tuck said carefully before eyeing Amanda. “Who’s this?”
“A dear friend of the family.” John replied smoothly.
Mr. Tuck squinted. “Where’s Ji-“
“Jill is at the clinic today.” John interrupted casually. “I wanted to bring Eden to your farm to educate her on the animals and their importance in our ecosystem.”
“Moo-moo ‘n howsy!” Eden shouted excitedly from her grandmother’s arms.
The grandparents exchanged uneasy glances, but nodded; obliging with cautious hospitality.
They led Eden around the property. She fed horses from her small palm, giggling as their soft muzzles tickled her skin. With help from her grandfather; she sat atop one for a gentle ride around the paddock. John watched from his wheelchair with unmistakable pride glowing in his fatigue eyes. Amanda stood behind him, content.
Her grandmother showed her how to milk a cow; Eden’s little hands squeezed with intense focus, earning a triumphant squeal when milk streamed into the bucket. Sometime after; she followed around a herd of tiny, fluffy sheep; drawing more delighted laughter out of the little girl.
Then came the pig pen.
A mud-covered, large, female pig slept in the mud with her litter of pink piglets. Eden froze. Her heart pounded out of her chest. She spun and ran straight to John; burying her face into his chest, her small hands fisting his shirt. She began to cry.
Her grandparents looked on, confused. “Eden, honey? What's the matter?” Mrs. Tuck asked.
John wrapped an arm around her. “No, no, don’t worry. Pigs are very friendly animals, sweetheart. I’ll show you.” He nodded to Amanda, who wheeled him closer. He took some pig feed and demonstrated, scattering it for the curious piglets.
“Try, Eden.” He encouraged
She shook her head ‘no’, pressing harder into him.
Mrs. Tuck stepped forward softly. “If she’s scared, she doesn’t have to-”
“She needs to.” John said firmly, but gently. He looked down at his daughter. “May I take your hand?”
Eden hesitated, then gave a tiny nod.
John took her small hand in his; guiding it to grasp a bit of feed. Together, they extended it toward a bold piglet. The animal sniffed, wet snout brushing her fingers. Eden groaned in fear but John shushed her softly. “It’s okay.”
The piglet licked her hand. Eden’s face softened into a hesitant giggle. “Tickley…”
John smiled. “Pigs are important on a farm, Eden. They help agriculture in many ways, and they are some of the most intelligent, compassionate animals. Similar to dogs.”
“Dawggy?” Eden smiled a bit, turning to face her father.
“Yes. And you… you were born in the Hour of the Pig.” He explained.
“Wat dat?”
John considered his answer carefully. “When people are born; they come into the world at different times. In the Chinese Zodiac; those times have meanings.”
“Bifdays?”
“Exactly like birthdays.”
She grinned proudly. “Eye 3!”
John nodded solemnly. “A very respectable age.”
Eden giggled.
He pointed toward the pig pen. “The Pig is a symbol. They say that those born under the Pig are kind people. Loving people; full of rebirth and renewal.”
Eden’s eyes widened. “I piggy?”
“Yes.” John said, warmth in his voice. “The Pig is a part of who you are. It will be until the day you die.”
She giggled more confidently this time; whispering something into her father’s ear.
John glanced at the Tucks, who still looked deeply uncomfortable. “She said wants to pet them.”
They led her to the pen. Eden reached out; her fingers brushing the soft heads of the piglets. She laughed outright. “I wuv piggy!”
John and Amanda shared a quiet glance of triumph together. Their work here was done.