[Child of God]: 416.Short Stories.Dancing Lights

“See dad? Isn’t this nice?”
The middle-aged man crossed his arms impatiently, looking skeptically at his eighteen year old daughter. His ruffled business suit clung to him in the night humidity, dirt sullying his polished leather shoes and briefcase. “Ya, beautiful. Wonderful. Now let’s go, I have to be at the office early tomorrow morning.”
“The pond, the moon; doesn’t it all just feel so magical?” The redhead gave no indication of having heard what was said to her.
“You’re a bit old for this nonsense Michelle. It was cute when you were little but now it’s just immature.”
She turned her soft green eyes up to her father’s cold ones. How could the same two pairs of eyes see such different things? Tiny lights stole her attention as they danced just above the pond’s surface.
“Look dad! The fairies are out!” She whispered excitedly, just as she had done when she was younger.

Tonight was a wonderous night, full of magic and celebration. Tonight, under the full moon another would be granted their wings. Tiny voices sang songs of joy and blessings as they danced over the water, preparing for the ceremony which was about to begin. More joined the dance until the waters sparkled under their light and the wind carried their voices to the ears of creation around them.

“Don’t be foolish Michelle!”
“I’m not! Listen: they’re singing!”

As the song slowed, all stopped save for one. As the lone fairy sang on alone in her sliver voice, the others flew over to the bank where a young, wingless fairy awaited. His mother hovered at the front of the group and slowly glided towards him in beat with the sliver voice, motioning him to come to her. Stretching his small arms up, his fingers could almost touch hers but not quite. As the song reached its climax, the silver voice became the sound of bell as all nature joined in the song.

“Don’t you know dad? Every time bells ring, another fairy gets its wings”

The child reached higher and as his hand connected with hers the other fairies joined in with the song. As the child joined with his mother the gift came into full blossom, springing forth as flowers after a long winter sleeping. Embracing, the others circled around the parent and child, their voices slowly dying away into whispers.

“All I hear are the misqitoes buzzing in my ear! I’m leaving and if you want a ready you’d better follow!”
“But dad the fairies . . .”
“There are no such things as fairies!” 

The singing abruptly stopped as the child fairy cried out in pain. Clutching his chest, his breathing became labored, as though being squeezed from the inside. The mother looked around to the others frantically, knowing what has happening. Enclosing the circle tightly, the other fairies surrounded the two and began a low song, appealing to the heart of nature as the child began to cry.

“Don’t say that dad! Every time someone says they don’t believe in fairies, a fairy somewhere dies!”
“They can’t die if they aren’t real!”

Crying out again, the child’s eyes began to close as he sobbed into his mother’s chest, not understanding what was happening. The mother desperately clung to the child, comforting and rocking him, the song of appeal growing louder as all poured their hearts into it. Before the song could finish though, there was already stillness. No more pain or fear touched the child as he entered into his eternal sleep.

“I’m leaving Michelle. This was nothing but a waste of my time.”
As the two left the pond, a tear slipped down Michelle’s cheek. No longer was the song one of joy and celebration, but rather of sorrow and loss.
It seemed as though all around her creation was crying for the loss of its child.