by Sarah Earlene Shere, ©2024
(Jan. 13, 2024) — Alessandra rapidly alternated the movement of her fingers, causing golden sparks to flicker from their tips while a similar phenomenon made its way up the translucent wings on her back, only to die away like a cooling ember. She dropped her hands to her sides with a sigh. “It’s no use. I’ve run out of magic.” She shivered at hearing her thoughts spoken aloud as tears rushed to her eyes. She suddenly looked up at the sound of laughter outside her house. Opening up the shutters, Alessandra leaned on the windowsill as she gazed out onto the fairy village. She watched as her neighbors fluttered about, effortlessly leaving trails of golden dust in their wake as they went about their tasks of bringing things to life and making the world a more beautiful place. She closed her shutters and returned to her dark room with a heavy heart.
That night, when the moon was playing hide-and-seek behind the clouds, Alessandra made her way deep into the woods, refusing to look back at the fairy village she was leaving behind. After many hours, she was exhausted, and sought out a moment of rest within a cave, whose entrance was obscured by hanging vines. Upon entry, she heard beautiful harp music coming from deep inside the cave. Entranced, she followed the melody. Soon she came upon a clear, blue pool of water, flanked by intricately engraved urns. At the far end of the pool stood an elegant young woman. She smiled kindly at the fairy. “What is it you seek?”
Alessandra blinked in surprise. “Seek? To hide away, I suppose, to become invisible. I’m not everything I should be.”
“And what is that?”
“I’m not like the others.”
“That is not what you ‘should be’. Come. Take a drink from the water, close your eyes, breathe deeply, be still, then you will see what you were made to be.”
Alessandra did as she was urged to do. While her eyes were still closed, she felt a sudden peace envelop her. Slowly, she began to rise. Opening her eyes, she found herself hovering over the pool, facing the path from which she had come. The lady, with whom she had switched positions, asked, “Do you see it now?”
Tears of joy filled Alessandra’s eyes. “Yes! This is where I’m meant to be, guarding this pool of life and refreshing for all weary travelers. This is what I should be!”
With a smile, the lady brought the hood of her cloak up over her blonde hair and left Alessandra to her task.