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Fireflies
FIREFLIES
For Windham
I still remember our first encounter. I stood barefoot in the woods, embracing nature and enjoying feeling the grass between my toes. He appeared in the distance, where it was still dark, and I watched as he slowly approached, carrying a lantern and humming eerily to himself.
There was something otherworldly about him. I've met my fair share of supernatural beings, but he was different. I was drawn to him. Darkness radiated around him, but I wasn't afraid. On a logical level, I knew I should be, but somehow, I understood that he wouldn't hurt me.
He smiled at me, a bright, beautiful smile that made his eyes shine and softened his features. "I've lost my way," he said sadly. "This lantern glows a little bit brighter with every step I take closer to you. It seems that you are my light. Will you guide me now?"
It was an odd thing to say, but seeing the lost look in his eyes, I knew what he needed in that moment was a friend. "Alright," I agreed. "I'll try."
As I took his hand, the light grew brighter still. I didn't understand it, but I felt a bond between us. Somehow, this stranger and I were meant to meet.
Over time, he became an unexpected but welcome friend, and I realized I needed him as much as he needed me. I chased away the darkness that threatened to consume him, and he kept me safe from those who wanted to harm me.
Our bond was strengthened by the fact that we shared a birthday, although we were not born in the same year. He believed the Universe had done that intentionally to make it easier for us to find each other.
We were perfectly balanced, as far as magic was concerned. He thrived in shadows. I danced in light. He was death. I was life. He commanded demons. I guided spirits to peace. It may seem odd that a dark soul who could convince anyone to follow him to the end of the earth and a love and light witch child would end up as friends, but I suppose opposites attract.
We couldn't spend much time together because we lived in very different worlds, but we always found each other when one of us was in distress. I fought to remind him that life was not hopeless and led him back to the light whenever he lost his way. He defended me from the unspeakable monsters that tried to destroy all that was good in this world.
He seemed immortal. I believed it was impossible for him to meet his end. I think everyone did. When I heard the news, I couldn't consider that it might be true. It was impossible. There must have been a mistake. Even as word spread, I wanted to deny the reality that this incredible otherworldly being had left us so soon.
I fled into the woods. I lit white tea light candles around me in a circle, trying to soothe myself, my bare feet grounding me as they moved through the grass.
I wanted to cry as reality sank in, but no tears came. It seemed my grief was too powerful for a single body to produce enough tears to even begin to express the pain storming inside of me. Instead, the sky turned dark, and it wept for me.
The storm extinguished the flames. I found myself in darkness. Then, slowly, a light came toward me. It remained steady and dim. I inhaled sharply as I realized what was happening.
He came into view, wrapped in shadows. I reached toward him, but I couldn't touch him. "I knew you'd come," I whispered softly.
"I've lost my way," he said. "Will you guide me now?"
My heart ached in my chest. I didn't want to face this. Still, I knew he needed me now more than ever.
"Of course I will," I replied. "Always."
He smiled at me sadly. "I'm not ready to go yet," he said.
"I'm sorry," I told him. "I wish I could change it somehow."
"My family still needs me. My friends are lost without me. How can I leave them behind? Who will take care of them now?"
"We'll take care of each other," I promised. "You know what happens to souls if they stay here for too long. I won't let that happen to you."
"You are my light. Please help me. The tides are trying to bury me and sweep me away into the darkness."
I reached forward, touching him. "Cling to me," I said. "Hold on for as long as you need. I'll keep you safe, just like you always did for me."
He smiled sadly before grabbing onto me. The light grew brighter. His lantern was almost powerful enough to blind me now, but I didn't look away. He needed me, and I'd made a promise.
I knew his soul would remain with me until it was safe for him to cross over. "It's alright," I lied. Nothing about this was alright. "We'll get through this together."
© All Rights Reserved
For Windham
I still remember our first encounter. I stood barefoot in the woods, embracing nature and enjoying feeling the grass between my toes. He appeared in the distance, where it was still dark, and I watched as he slowly approached, carrying a lantern and humming eerily to himself.
There was something otherworldly about him. I've met my fair share of supernatural beings, but he was different. I was drawn to him. Darkness radiated around him, but I wasn't afraid. On a logical level, I knew I should be, but somehow, I understood that he wouldn't hurt me.
He smiled at me, a bright, beautiful smile that made his eyes shine and softened his features. "I've lost my way," he said sadly. "This lantern glows a little bit brighter with every step I take closer to you. It seems that you are my light. Will you guide me now?"
It was an odd thing to say, but seeing the lost look in his eyes, I knew what he needed in that moment was a friend. "Alright," I agreed. "I'll try."
As I took his hand, the light grew brighter still. I didn't understand it, but I felt a bond between us. Somehow, this stranger and I were meant to meet.
Over time, he became an unexpected but welcome friend, and I realized I needed him as much as he needed me. I chased away the darkness that threatened to consume him, and he kept me safe from those who wanted to harm me.
Our bond was strengthened by the fact that we shared a birthday, although we were not born in the same year. He believed the Universe had done that intentionally to make it easier for us to find each other.
We were perfectly balanced, as far as magic was concerned. He thrived in shadows. I danced in light. He was death. I was life. He commanded demons. I guided spirits to peace. It may seem odd that a dark soul who could convince anyone to follow him to the end of the earth and a love and light witch child would end up as friends, but I suppose opposites attract.
We couldn't spend much time together because we lived in very different worlds, but we always found each other when one of us was in distress. I fought to remind him that life was not hopeless and led him back to the light whenever he lost his way. He defended me from the unspeakable monsters that tried to destroy all that was good in this world.
He seemed immortal. I believed it was impossible for him to meet his end. I think everyone did. When I heard the news, I couldn't consider that it might be true. It was impossible. There must have been a mistake. Even as word spread, I wanted to deny the reality that this incredible otherworldly being had left us so soon.
I fled into the woods. I lit white tea light candles around me in a circle, trying to soothe myself, my bare feet grounding me as they moved through the grass.
I wanted to cry as reality sank in, but no tears came. It seemed my grief was too powerful for a single body to produce enough tears to even begin to express the pain storming inside of me. Instead, the sky turned dark, and it wept for me.
The storm extinguished the flames. I found myself in darkness. Then, slowly, a light came toward me. It remained steady and dim. I inhaled sharply as I realized what was happening.
He came into view, wrapped in shadows. I reached toward him, but I couldn't touch him. "I knew you'd come," I whispered softly.
"I've lost my way," he said. "Will you guide me now?"
My heart ached in my chest. I didn't want to face this. Still, I knew he needed me now more than ever.
"Of course I will," I replied. "Always."
He smiled at me sadly. "I'm not ready to go yet," he said.
"I'm sorry," I told him. "I wish I could change it somehow."
"My family still needs me. My friends are lost without me. How can I leave them behind? Who will take care of them now?"
"We'll take care of each other," I promised. "You know what happens to souls if they stay here for too long. I won't let that happen to you."
"You are my light. Please help me. The tides are trying to bury me and sweep me away into the darkness."
I reached forward, touching him. "Cling to me," I said. "Hold on for as long as you need. I'll keep you safe, just like you always did for me."
He smiled sadly before grabbing onto me. The light grew brighter. His lantern was almost powerful enough to blind me now, but I didn't look away. He needed me, and I'd made a promise.
I knew his soul would remain with me until it was safe for him to cross over. "It's alright," I lied. Nothing about this was alright. "We'll get through this together."
© All Rights Reserved
