Daylight Saving, Issue 1: Part 2.1

Page 7

Panel 1: Meanwhile, in Brie's bedroom, a beam of energy drops down from the ceiling to the floor and forms the shape of their late mother Anya just as she begins.

ANYA

(increasingly reddened eyes) My sweet Cam...I may not be there in the flesh. But not even death can keep me from our ritual.

Panel 2: We join the two of them a short time later, reciting the poem at the same time just as has been the case for years before.

BRIE & ANYA

May this be the day we come together.

Mourning, we come to mend,

Withered, we come to weather.

(Bubble 2) Torn, we come to tend, Battered, we come to better.

Tethered by this year of yearning,

We are learning

Panel 3: A series snapshot of the family back in far happier days. The first at a park for an outdoor play.

Caption

(Cont., Brie & Anya)

"That though we weren't ready for this,

We have been readied by it.

We steadily vow that no matter

How we are weighed down,

We must always pave a way forward."

Panel 4: In the next one, we see the mothers cheering as Brie is honored at their school for academic achievement.

Caption

(Cont., Brie & Anya)

"This hope is our door, our portal.

Even if we never get back to normal,

Someday we can venture beyond it,

To leave the known and take the first steps."

Caption

(Cont., Brie & Anya)

"So let us not return to what was normal,

But reach toward what is next.

What was cursed, we will cure.

What was plagued, we will prove pure."

Panel 5: We close at their home on the day that Brie comes out as non-binary. There's a shared glance between Joanna and Anya, gauging what to do next.

Caption

(Cont., Brie & Anya)

"Where we tend to argue, we will try to agree,

Those fortunes we forswore, now the future we foresee,

Where we weren't aware, we're now awake;

Those moments we missed..."

Panel 6: At the other end of this moment, the three of them share a loving family hug to signify the acceptance and deep love between them.

Caption

(Cont., Brie & Anya)

"Are now these moments we make,

The moments we meet,

And our hearts, once altogether beaten,

Now all together beat..."

Page 8

Panel 1: We then drift back to the same setting and layout as Panel 2 of the previous page. There's a sense of ominous foreboding in Brie's eyes as they speak this part, knowing what will soon happen.

BRIE & ANYA

Come, look up with kindness yet,

For even solace can be sourced from sorrow.

We remember, not just for the sake of yesterday,

But to take on tomorrow...

Panel 2: With Mx. Benoit's eyes tightly closed, holding back a waterfall of tears, we see Anya stumble onto one knee; her eyes beginning to gloss over.

JOANNA

(Off-Panel) Oh Gods- ANYA...

Panel 3: They slowly open their eyes a few moments later, wiping away the tears that had been building up earlier. You can hear a slight whiz sound as the holographic ends.

JODW

(Off-Panel) It puzzles me why you'd leave that last part in there. Wouldn't it be better to edit that part out?

BRIE

(matter of factly) Probably, yeah. But it wouldn't be honorable to her memory, or her views on death. Momma Jo said it best when she saw me bawling my eyes out after the service.

Panel 4: As the young person settles in a short time later for a night's glorious sleep, they glance over at a framed photo off-panel on the night table.

Caption

(Cont., Brie)

"'Don't be ashamed of those tears, sweet Cammie. It's long been a misconception, from the Wasted Age to today, that tears are a strictly pain-based phenomenon. They also serve the purpose of memorializing moments of joy and love to those we lost."

Caption

(Cont., Brie)

"'The more tears that fall, the more joy and love the person they missed gave you."

Panel 5: Brie extends a kiss with their pointer and middle fingers at the photo; a loving half-grin coming over the young person's face. You can see from their opposite arm a set of movement as they stim off-panel to ease back down.

Caption

(Cont., Brie)

"'I can't think of any better honor for someone as special as my Annie was...I know that's the way I want to be viewed when I leave this Earthly plane!'"

Panel 6: We see their fingers touch the photo for the first time, showing the three of them after a showing of "Avengers: Endgame" when Brie was 11 years old.

BRIE

(Off-Panel) Love you Mamas...please protect me!