The chilled alley air punched through the thin sheets that established the hospital’s borders. Kyrah cried out in pain, her already pale skin draining white at the force of her grip on the bed rails. 

 

I wasn’t allowed near her, there wasn’t space for me in what amounted to a makeshift clinic. I stood partway into the alley, wrapping cloth tighter around my face. I made sure that the fabric lay thickest around my eyes to cast a heavier shadow.

 

Kyrah’s eyes widened, the faint light illuminated their brilliant yellow hue before she slammed them shut. Those golden eyes that enraptured my spirit darted behind closed eyelids as she let out another wail of pain.

 

”Sir?” A soft voice called, accompanied by a light touch to my arm.

 

I turned to look to whom hailed me. A young woman with auburn eyes, they complimented her caramel skin and onyx hair. She leaped backed as soon as my eyes met hers, her entire being forcing itself to the ground.

 

’My apologies, Sire. I didn’t mean to disturb you.” she whispered while choking back a torrent of emotions.

 

I kneeled down and tried to help her back to her feet.

 

”Did you need something, Miss?” I asked, attempting to keep my voice as calming as possible.

 

She kept her head down and didn’t offer a response.

 

“Please, stand with me.” I said while tucking my arm under hers.

 

She complied, but as we stood I could see she was still clenching her eyes shut.

 

”You have no need to behave in such a way around me.”

 

She shook her head.

 

”Your eyes.” She whispered.

 

”I know. Shamrocks. But please understand that I am the one out of place here.” I replied.

 

”What is a Lifekin doing here?” She asked, her eyes still squeezed closed to the point it wrinkled her cheeks.

 

”My child is being born today.”

 

The woman’s eyes shot open. They darted to meet mine, and then towards the delivering table.

 

“But you’re-“ She started.

 

”I know.”

 

”And she is-“

 

”I know.” 

 

“Sire. Your-“

 

”Please don’t call me ‘Sire’, it is unnecessary” I retorted, a bit more fussed than I intended.

 

She pulled away from me and looked back and forth again between me and my beloved.

 

”Your eyes are deeper and greener than the hordes of money your kind lords over us. You shouldn’t be here” she said in a grave tone.

 

”I can’t refute that. But I would not miss her giving birth to our child.” I explained.

 

”You toiled with a sunborn? And offer compassion to an earthchild like me? How are you not dead? Your fellow leprechauns would surely execute you were they to find out.” She asked, her words clipped in disbelief.

 

I parted my lips to respond, but a shrill cry cut through the air. A child’s cry.

 

I withdrew from the exchange with the young woman and hurried to the bedside. The doctor, an older gentleman with azure eyes looked over a baby who continued to wail in her hands. I took Kyrah’s hand, she laid back with deep breaths.

 

“It’s a girl. She looks healthy.” He stated.

 

“Thank you, Rainspawn.” I replied.

 

“Doctor is fine. Here.” He said, placing a crying bundle of cloth in Kyrah’s arms. I looked at the wailing bundle, her skin was flush while she gasped for breath between each loud cry.

 

“I didn’t check her eyes.” He explained.

 

“Doctor. You said she is healthy. That is our concern” I responded, giving Kyrah an affirmative nod.

 

I couldn’t tell if the Doctor scoffed or laughed at my reply. It was likely a combination of both.

 

“I would call you a weird one. But seems a bit moot to say given where we all are. Regardless, I will leave you three alone for a bit. I will be back in a couple minutes to help both girls get ready for discharge.”

 

Without another word, the Doctor stepped outside the curtain wall. I turned to look at Kyrah and our newborn daughter. The shrieks had begun to subside into to a softer whine as Kyrah held the child close.

 

I hovered closer to the two of them. Kyrah was looking down at the bundle in her arms, her breaths were long and slow as she lightly rocked the blankets. I moved closer and rested my head on hers, the sweat was still heavy on her brow and hair. I waited there while she continued to calm our child, my mind racing through possibilities of what was to come next. If she had my green eyes, she could come live with me in a life of luxury, but Kyrah seeing her again would be a near impossibility for who knows how long. Blue I could sponsor her into a decent school at least, but neither Kyrah nor I could be present in her life. Yellow or Brown and I would entrust her to Kyrah, aiding and seeing them whenever I could find the opportunity. But it would be a hard life for her, and especially Kyrah.

 

I didn’t find any of these to be ideal.

 

“Adem.” Kyrah breathed my name, pulling me from my thoughts. I hadn’t noticed that the infant had stopped making any noise.

 

Raising from my relaxed position, I stood and looked down into Kyrah’s arms.

 

I froze.

 

I stared.

 

I wasn’t greated by a powerful brown like that of sturdy Earth. Nor a shining yellow that glowed like the warm sun. Nay a calm blue that were as deep as the seas. Neither a vibrant green that breathed life like the forests and fields.

 

“Red.” I managed to choke out.

 

The child looked up at me with bright, piercing, crimson eyes.

 

She smiled, and the image of a roaring flame flooded my mind.

———

 

Inspiration:

 

Writing Prompt: “You live in a Dystopian world where eye color determines your social class. 20 years later a baby is born with red eyes.“