School News
Word On The StreetWord on the Street:
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THAT’S A WRAP: We are on the Home Stretch Cobras!By: Bella Fisher
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CREATIVE WRITING CORNER
The Trails of a Fairy: Chapters 7 &
Conclusion
By: Hailey Civittolo
"The tree's being cut down. We must move now." For a quick moment, I can feel my heart pulsing blood through my veins, but the next second all that feeling stops and my face goes pale. My heart sinks at the thought of losing the place I felt closest to home. A pool of sorrow overcomes me when the realization hits. My eyes roam the treetops below, searching for ground. Violet notices my lost expression and takes my hand, leading me to the safe haven. I forget all about the boy with the bright hazel eyes as my mind thinks of everything but him. Where are we going to go? When do we move? Where is Violet's mother, or the woman I thought was her mother. These thoughts fill my head with worry, making me grow anxious and bite off anything my teeth can get ahold of. My bottom lip, my fingernails, the skin of my thumb. I can feel the swift air tangle through my hair letting me know the fast speed we’re traveling, but the painful wait makes it feel like we’re miles away from the tree. My head can't even process the branches that leave scratches scattered throughout my body.
We make it through the bushes of leaves, revealing the sight I dreaded the moment Violet approached me. The sudden impact makes my head spin until my vision focuses on Violet’s quivering lip and the slow shake of her head. Her hands make their way to her mouth, trying to hold down the choked sobs that escape her throat. Abruptly, I feel warmth from behind my eyes and my nose begins to run at the sight in front of me. Our humble abode is gone. The tall strident sapling that once stood is now piled on the ground with more trees that surrounded it from before. "No no NO!" Violet yells with her chest. "JESSICA!!" She shouts even louder causing me to flinch.
I watch as Violet struggles getting her wings to work as they flutter ever so lightly, hardly keeping her in the air. Quickly, I grab her waist and wrap her arm over my shoulder, but my body is being pushed back with a quick force. "Get off me! I need to find her." The pain and breaking of her voice cause me to go still. I continue to watch her wings fail to hold her up as she stumbles her way towards the ground. “Violet, you need to slow down. You can barely fly at this state." I say reaching out for her arm but she flitches away and turns in my direction with an angered expression. “This is all your fault!" The words escape her mouth, stabbing me right in the chest. What did she just say? My fault? Those words set me back, but before I can get a word out, Violet continues. "If you weren't so busy playing with a stupid guy and followed my rules, I could have gotten Jess in time." My body jolts at her harsh words and my bottom lip begins to wobble. "I was too worried about you rather than her, but that was foolish of me since you had your eyes set on some stranger who you don't even know."
Tears trickle down my cheeks as I stare into Violet’s eyes, searching for the reason behind her sudden behavior, but all I can see is hurt. A grueling pain that I can't fully understand or figure out washes over me. My
trembling mouth opens to speak, but I'm too late. I'm faced with the back of Violet’s head and her limbed body making its way to the fallen trees. Afraid to speak out, I waste no time in following her, but the sudden pull of my body flies me backwards into the leaves. I yelp to the tight grips placed on my mouth and waist from behind. Worried to find out who or what’s keeping me hostage, I squeezed my eyes shut. My mind races with the thoughts of it being the queen bee and her guards finally finding me. I chomp down on my lower lip once more, waiting for what is next to come for me. Weirdly, I'm released from their hold, leaving me to reach for the nearest branch. I grip onto the tough oak with no plans on letting go and my eyes still closed; too frightened to reveal who it is.
"Hey it's okay. I wasn't trying to hurt you." The soft-spoken voice eases my hold on the tree and the kind words makes me brave enough to peek at the mysterious person. Slowly, my eyes begin to open and once my blurred vision gains focus, they widen when I recognize those hazel orbs. He puts his finger over his lips as a sign of being quiet and points out beyond the branches. I follow the direction he’s pointing in and see two tall men with chain saws in their hands and gear strapped around their waist. These men are human. Normal, ordinary, real-life people doing their job. "You're lucky I caught you in time. That argument must have been pretty intense if you didn't see them." I block out his words as my eyes search for Violet in hope she's okay. "Your friend will be fine. Humans see butterflies everyday out here, so they'll pay no mind to her, unlike us.
They see us… and it’s game over." He chuckles to himself but that familiar feeling of losing Violet again and the ache of seeing how upset she was with me is making me wish this game comes to an end fast. I can't lose her again, especially not like this. We need each other. The slight touch on my shoulder snaps me out of my sorrowful daze and my eyes focus on the yellowish ones in front of me. The softness of his hands and the delicate rub of his thumb against my skin releases a feeling of comfort and I absorb it. "I know it’s hard to deal with, what you're feeling right now, but we need to go like right now before these humans cut down this tree." I follow the direction his eyes and see the large men making their way towards us. Before I can get my legs to move, I feel my body being lifted and carried off into the air. My head snaps back to the forest floor, searching for Violet’s bright rays of purple that repel from her wings, but there's no sight of her. I feel my body slump into the boy’s arms and focus my vision on what is ahead of me. I watch as he dodges the branches with swift motions, making it out of the forest and revealing a beautiful waterfall. It’s so pleasing to the eyes that it’s almost magical. "It's gorgeous, isn't it?" He says catching my attention. I nod in agreement. I block my ears from the loud noise as the boy leads us behind the water and into a hidden cave.
Once we are far from the noise and deep into the hollow, I remove my hands from my head and let my feet reach the floor as he puts me down gently. He must be living here because around me I see a bed made of feathers and sticks with a blanket of animal fur and a lit campfire next to it. It all looks worn in and used like it's been here for a while. "Welcome to my humble abode!" My posture shifts into an uneasy stand in reminder of the home I had just lost. The young man must have noticed the change in my mood as he switches subjects.
"Are you hungry? I can go hunt us some food." I stay quiet as I fight off the tears from escaping my lids by harshly chewing on the inside of my mouth. Before I make myself bleed from the hard grip, the boy takes my hands and hold them without saying a word. He does his special little thumb rub and lets me take in the consolation. Shockingly, he moves in for a hug, catching me by surprise. I stand stiff as he wraps his arms around my torso into a perfect squeeze. Not too tight nor too loose. I hesitantly do the same, feeling more of that comfort I crave for. This tops any of those caressing thumb thingies he does. Between the sweet odor he gives off and the way my head fits perfectly beneath his chin giving me a pocket to rest in, I feel like all my worries washed away. His hold becomes a blanket of protection, and I don't want it to end. I want to stay in this bubble and float away as I watch my problems stay behind.
Sadly, that bubble popped as his hands let go and are down by his sides. "I’ll help you find your friend, but first we need to eat and get some rest." My head shoots up with excitement and a slight smile is plastered on my face causing the boy to smile back. After being up close and really focused on his face, I noticed the small gap in his teeth and the sharp cupid’s bow above his lip. Three little moles spread across his face and in the corner of his eye are tiny scars. Every little feature I notice distracts me from the somber feelings I had earlier. He notices my curious eyes and laughs to himself, shaking me out of my trance. "I'm going to get us some food. Take a nap while I'm gone." He says grabbing for his hunting gear. I take a seat on to the surprisingly comfy bed and slouch at the news of his absence. "Don't worry. I won't be long." He flashes a smile before flying off. Those last words gave me some reassurance as I stare at the empty spot where he once stood. I look down at the bed and let my fingers run through the thick coat of fur. I try not to think of what animal he killed to get this by thinking
make myself comfortable. It’s like a nest as I nuzzle my way into a spot I fit perfectly in. Once I find that spot, I let my eyes close, and my ears listen to the crackling sound of the fire and the water running in the distance. My body feels at ease and is ready to sleep, but the thoughts of Violet keep me awake. That dreadful pain sneaks its way back into my chest leaving its torture. I can't bare it anymore, so I let the waters run and sobs choke much like the waterfall; harsh and loud.
Chapter 8 (conclusion)
“Justin is the name”, the boy with hazel eyes said to me after we finish our meal before setting off on our adventure. I finally gained the courage to share mine after lunch. He must have realized I was crying before due to the puffy redness shown on my face and the way I felt his eyes on me, following my every move. Even now, I can still feel him watching me as we fly through the trees in search of Violet. I make quick looks to the side and watch as he snaps his head back in front of him, as if he wasn't looking. I stop in my tracks making him slow down and turn in my direction with a questioning stare. "Could you stop staring at me ... please." I whisper while looking down at my hands. I watch him let out a long sigh and start to make his way towards me. "I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd notice." "You don't have to pity me." I say quietly once more. "No, no I wasn't!" Justin shoots out with wide eyes and shaky hands. My eyes wander at the way he starts to chew on his already torn nails. I make sure to look at every finger and notice how all his nails are chewed down past his skin.
"I just. . . find you really fascinating." I'm taken back by the comment and question if he’s being serious. " I know you were crying earlier but when I saw your eyes, I was somehow drawn to them. Something about them made me more curious about you." I notice how he fumbles over his words and makes no effort in making eye contact, but I can feel a slight warmth cover my cheeks in the process. "Not to mention, you're very gorgeous." He laughs to himself, and I turn red.
I'm caught off guard when a loud snap pierces through my ears. My body jolts and we both turn toward the direction of the noise. The leaves start to rustle, and my body is pulled back behind branches, waiting for the big reveal. I begin to nibble at my bottom lip hard hoping that whatever there is a bright, majestic butterfly with her purple wings fluttering behind her. My anticipation grows the more I wait in silence and the only thing I hear is the sound of my heart pumping its blood through my ears. Suddenly, a creature with brown fur and a large fluffy tail appears from the tree with its beady eyes blinking back at us.
I let my shoulders slump in disappointment and the squirrel runs away for the next branch. Justin breathes out the air he was holding as a sigh of relief. I sit there for a moment and watch the squirrel find its friend as they chase each other around in circles, jumping to another tree and disappearing into the secrets of the forest. I let the quiet take over me and the wind sends a cold chill down my spine, but a quick shiver spread throughout my body when I hear a faint sob in the distance. I focus my attention on the pained cries and see past my floating feet a small figure. The beaming color of purple catches my eye, causing them to water at the familiar sight. I slowly make my way towards Violet, watching as her body jolts with every breath.
I leave Justin behind because I'm too afraid Violet will disappear if she leaves my line of sight. My heart is beating so loud, I can hear it in my ears, blocking everything out and I'm left focusing on her and how her body gets bigger the closer I get. My head scrambles with thoughts of what to say and the possibilities of what will happen. What if she still hates me? What if she pushes me away again? I'm not ready for that but I must try. I can't lose her. At this point, I'm inches away from Violet, almost arm's length, but suddenly I'm too scared to move. In front of me, a large net covers Violet, trapping her and a childlike hand grabs for it. The humans’ wide orbs observe Violet like she's a prize and smiles with joy.
Anger spills over me until a loud voice booms through the thick air, catching the child and l's attention. I turn my head in the direction of where the voice is coming from but when I turn back to the young girl, I see her put Violet into a glass jar and place it into one of the back pockets of her baggy overalls. The little girl takes off in the direction of the voice and I waste no time and chase after her, but something grabs my wrist and stops me. I turn and see Justin with an angered, yet worried expression. "August what do you think you're doing? You're going to get yourself killed!" He says out of breath. "It's Violet, I found her." I explain pointing towards the child in the overalls. I watch as his shoulders slump, still not letting go of my hand. "We can't just chase after humans like that. It’s too dangerous." I see his eyes show sympathy, starting to make me doubtful, but I don't let it get to me.
I think back to her harsh words from before she left me. I can't let Violet go again, especially not over the words of a guy. So, I free my hand from his hold and take off. "I'm going, but if you're too scared to come,
so be it." I say before leaving and without looking back. . . . I fly as in the speed of light, faster than I've ever flown before, following close behind the young girl as she jumps and leaps over obstacles scattered throughout the forest floor. I push myself forward with more wind power, determined to get Violet out of there. Finally, I'm able to reach the jar and hang on to the lid. Inside I see Violet with her head in her knees, not making any effort to escape. I tap on the glass, letting her know I'm here and I watch as her face lights up. A huge smile spreads throughout my face when I see the joy in her eyes and her pearly white teeth, making me feel good that she's happy to see me. Violet jumps to her feet and begins to bang on the glass with her tiny fist. I pay attention to how her mouth moves like words are coming out, but the thick glass is blocking her voice, making her words muffled. I shake my head and mouth the words "I can't hear you" and make my way towards the lid of the jar to start turning it. As I get my grip on the bronze rim and my feet adjusted around the glass, I turn it as hard as I can, but it doesn't budge.
Violet notices my struggle and helps by turning the lid from the inside. Both our eyes are squeezed shut as we put all our strength into opening the lid but don't succeed. Sitting on top of the jar, I let out an angered sigh and my head hung low as it bounces with every step the young girl takes. With not much left to do, I sit there for a moment to think. What am I going to do? Suddenly, I'm knocked back into reality by a faint tapping on the glass from Violet. I peak my head down below the jar and see her pointing at something ahead. I follow the direction of where she’s pointing and see a tiny figure. I squint my eyes to get a better look and notice the familiar torso that belongs to Justin. A big smile appears on my lips, and I begin to wave him down. Waiting for his arrival, I hear the roar of thunder and a quick flash of light behind the dark clouds. In a panic, I continue back on trying to open the jar the best I can. "We need to hurry. It’s going to pour any second." Justin says rushing over to help. We all get in position and start turning. I can feel my hands begin to blister and bleed from the tight grip on the sharp ridges indented on the rim. Justin even starts to kick the lid but still no budge.
I stop for a moment to catch my breath and to ease my hands. I look to my side and see that Violet’s eyes become glossy while looking at my palms. She catches me looking at her and finally lets those tears fall. Watching her tears slide down Violet’s rosy, freckled cheeks ignites something in me that is more than determination. Something that tells me I absolutely need this person and would do anything to keep them here with me. Something that if I lost this person, I would lose myself. Something that I would give or do anything to see or make this person smile. Something that whenever I see this person cry, I would do anything in my power to make that pain go away. And I'm not going to give up on that, so I squeeze my hands and forget about the pain. I quickly fly into the pocket of the girls’ overalls and call Justin to help. He sees me push up underneath the jar and repeats my actions while Violet notices and pushes up on the lid. Working together, the heavy glass jar begins to lift but goes back down when the young girl jumps. We don't give up and continue to push until I make out what the little girl yells. "RAIN!" She shouts and runs faster than before causing the jar to slowly slip out on its own. We keep pushing together and with a final jump from the girl, the jar flies out with Justin and I still holding on. The glass hits a hard rock, causing it to break and shards of glass scatter everywhere. Unable to fly in the rain, me and Justin hit the ground hard, almost knocking us out.
My ears ring and my vision goes blurry. I lay there for a moment until I gain enough energy to move and check if everyone's okay. Next to me I see Justin standing up with one hand on his hip and the other resting on his head, rubbing it gently. My eyes roam for those purple wings finally catching my attention at the top of the rock. Trying to avoid any drop of rain, I race to the top of the rock and see her body not moving. I drop to my knees and turn her over, revealing her delicate face. Searching around for a safe place to hide, I see Justin waving me down at a mossy log. Quickly, I pick her up with the little power I have left and run towards safety. I'm almost there when a giant drop of rain hits my wings, causing me to tumble to the ground, dropping Violet in the process. Justin wastes no time in dragging us both inside the log. Immediately, I sat next to Violet and put her head in my lap to check if she's breathing. Just barely, I feel her breath against my cheek, but it comes out slow and painful. My eyes begin to swell up as I run one hand over her hair and the other holding on to her cheek. "Come on. Stay with me Violet" I choke out, barely breathing myself. "I need you." As I sit there and rock her, a slight cough escapes from Violet making me go still. I watch as her eyes start to blink and barely open in my direction.
"I know." Violet says laughing to herself. In the back I hear a quiet chuckle come from Justin, but I don't laugh. Instead, I’m too busy trying to get her in my embrace and squeeze her in a bone crushing hug. I sob some more into the crook of her neck, feeling that it's her turn to caress my head. I stay in her hold not wanting to ever let go and have the possibility of losing her again. "I'm so, so sorry August." Still holding on to her, I move back and look at her with a questioned stare. “I didn't mean to push you away. I was just angry at the thought of
losing you, to a guy, No offense." She says looking at Justin. We all let out a quick laugh. "I spent so much time in this fairytale searching for the one person that would help me get out, but what I needed to be looking for was the person I can't live without and that's you." My brows form into a deep frown, confused by what Violet has just said. My brain runs with so many questions, but I must know one thing first. "What about your mom? Is she okay?" I say watching as she looks down at our hands and then back up at me. "That woman is not my mother. She's my guide and when I went to search for her, I couldn't find her so she must have gotten out before the crash." I sigh in relief but jump back into confusion. A guide? Like Violet is to me? Before I can say another word, I become lightheaded. With the impact and the many thoughts circling my brain, my head begins to sting, and my vision goes blurry once again. My ears start to ring, blocking out any sound around me.
After some time, the ringing goes down and all I can hear are the muffled voices of Violet and Justin. I can only make out the quiet words of Violet when she says, “Please don't leave," and "you're my home. My best friend." I try to get my mouth to move to say something, anything, but nothing comes out. My body is far too weak. I can feel the way Violet leans down and how Justin's hand takes ahold of my free hand, doing his thumb caress thing again. Violet squeezes her arms tightly around me, leaving me cradled in her arms. I can feel how her head makes its way towards the crook of my neck by the warm tears that fall to my shoulder. Very faintly, I hear the words "I love you." sending a bolt of electricity throughout my body. That spark gave my body one last push of energy, giving the muscle in one of my arms to work and giving Violet one last squeeze before letting the darkness take over me. . .
. . . A beam of light shines over my closed lids, causing me to wake up from my slumber. My eves blink at the bright light and notice the familiar surroundings. I'm back in my room. My real-life bedroom with all my belongings. I sit up and let my eyes wander. This can't be real. I jump up out of bed and run to my full-sized mirror, noticing my wings are gone and the scars on my hands have disappeared. I stare back into the mirror and see I'm dressed in my casual pair of pajamas with a messy bun thrown on my head. How am I back home? I think back to the words Violet said when we first met. "Once you found your home here, you'll wake up one morning back to normal." But I never found my home. Then it hits me. Violet became the person I found home in. The thought of Violet makes me tear up, missing her and her presence. I start to imagine her in my head; with her long black hair that shimmered and her dark skin that was so smooth. How her smile would gleam in the sun or even in the darkest of places and the bright sparkle of purple that shone behind her back. The memories we made together flash by, and I think of how we couldn't have done our adventures without each other. We truly needed one another.
I collapse to the ground and begin to break down in tears, letting out harsh sobs. I don't stop until I feel a slight touch on my knee. I look up from behind my hands and see a butterfly with gorgeous purple wings staring back at me. My body stays still before a wide smile creep to my lips. I chuckle to myself at the thought that this butterfly being Violet and she must have escaped from her fairytale as well. I wipe my tears, still watching the butterfly flutter its wings on my knee but a loud voice from a far wakes me from my daze. "August! Breakfast is ready!" My dad says with his voice beaming through the walls. Hearing his voice again makes my smile even brighter. I wipe the snot dripping from my nose and yell back the words "I’ll be right there." I turn my attention back to the butterfly, thinking of what I should do. Not wanting to let go of something so special, I think about keeping her here with me. If I made her a pen, would she like it? But then I think back to the young girl trapping her inside that jar, making me realize how selfish it would be to keep her here. This isn't her real home. She deserves to be free so that's what I do. I let her crawl onto my finger and take her towards my window. Before opening it, I let out a deep sigh and choke out the words "thank you." Thank you for being the greatest friend I could ask for. Thank you for all the laughs and cries. Thank you for all the adventures and friends I made on the way. Thank you for always coming back to me. Mostly, thank you for helping me find my home. Opening the latch, she flies off but turns around and lands on my nose. Violet stays there for a moment, letting the silence take over once more. I think of this as her way of saying thank you for letting her free but also helping her escape. I close my eyes, taking in the unspoken silence and finish the unsaid words from before. “I love you too." Then she's gone. I watch as her bright colors disappear into the pink sky and behind the clouds, leaving me behind for good. I wipe away the tears I had left and ran for the kitchen to embrace my dad. I'm finally home.
The End
We make it through the bushes of leaves, revealing the sight I dreaded the moment Violet approached me. The sudden impact makes my head spin until my vision focuses on Violet’s quivering lip and the slow shake of her head. Her hands make their way to her mouth, trying to hold down the choked sobs that escape her throat. Abruptly, I feel warmth from behind my eyes and my nose begins to run at the sight in front of me. Our humble abode is gone. The tall strident sapling that once stood is now piled on the ground with more trees that surrounded it from before. "No no NO!" Violet yells with her chest. "JESSICA!!" She shouts even louder causing me to flinch.
I watch as Violet struggles getting her wings to work as they flutter ever so lightly, hardly keeping her in the air. Quickly, I grab her waist and wrap her arm over my shoulder, but my body is being pushed back with a quick force. "Get off me! I need to find her." The pain and breaking of her voice cause me to go still. I continue to watch her wings fail to hold her up as she stumbles her way towards the ground. “Violet, you need to slow down. You can barely fly at this state." I say reaching out for her arm but she flitches away and turns in my direction with an angered expression. “This is all your fault!" The words escape her mouth, stabbing me right in the chest. What did she just say? My fault? Those words set me back, but before I can get a word out, Violet continues. "If you weren't so busy playing with a stupid guy and followed my rules, I could have gotten Jess in time." My body jolts at her harsh words and my bottom lip begins to wobble. "I was too worried about you rather than her, but that was foolish of me since you had your eyes set on some stranger who you don't even know."
Tears trickle down my cheeks as I stare into Violet’s eyes, searching for the reason behind her sudden behavior, but all I can see is hurt. A grueling pain that I can't fully understand or figure out washes over me. My
trembling mouth opens to speak, but I'm too late. I'm faced with the back of Violet’s head and her limbed body making its way to the fallen trees. Afraid to speak out, I waste no time in following her, but the sudden pull of my body flies me backwards into the leaves. I yelp to the tight grips placed on my mouth and waist from behind. Worried to find out who or what’s keeping me hostage, I squeezed my eyes shut. My mind races with the thoughts of it being the queen bee and her guards finally finding me. I chomp down on my lower lip once more, waiting for what is next to come for me. Weirdly, I'm released from their hold, leaving me to reach for the nearest branch. I grip onto the tough oak with no plans on letting go and my eyes still closed; too frightened to reveal who it is.
"Hey it's okay. I wasn't trying to hurt you." The soft-spoken voice eases my hold on the tree and the kind words makes me brave enough to peek at the mysterious person. Slowly, my eyes begin to open and once my blurred vision gains focus, they widen when I recognize those hazel orbs. He puts his finger over his lips as a sign of being quiet and points out beyond the branches. I follow the direction he’s pointing in and see two tall men with chain saws in their hands and gear strapped around their waist. These men are human. Normal, ordinary, real-life people doing their job. "You're lucky I caught you in time. That argument must have been pretty intense if you didn't see them." I block out his words as my eyes search for Violet in hope she's okay. "Your friend will be fine. Humans see butterflies everyday out here, so they'll pay no mind to her, unlike us.
They see us… and it’s game over." He chuckles to himself but that familiar feeling of losing Violet again and the ache of seeing how upset she was with me is making me wish this game comes to an end fast. I can't lose her again, especially not like this. We need each other. The slight touch on my shoulder snaps me out of my sorrowful daze and my eyes focus on the yellowish ones in front of me. The softness of his hands and the delicate rub of his thumb against my skin releases a feeling of comfort and I absorb it. "I know it’s hard to deal with, what you're feeling right now, but we need to go like right now before these humans cut down this tree." I follow the direction his eyes and see the large men making their way towards us. Before I can get my legs to move, I feel my body being lifted and carried off into the air. My head snaps back to the forest floor, searching for Violet’s bright rays of purple that repel from her wings, but there's no sight of her. I feel my body slump into the boy’s arms and focus my vision on what is ahead of me. I watch as he dodges the branches with swift motions, making it out of the forest and revealing a beautiful waterfall. It’s so pleasing to the eyes that it’s almost magical. "It's gorgeous, isn't it?" He says catching my attention. I nod in agreement. I block my ears from the loud noise as the boy leads us behind the water and into a hidden cave.
Once we are far from the noise and deep into the hollow, I remove my hands from my head and let my feet reach the floor as he puts me down gently. He must be living here because around me I see a bed made of feathers and sticks with a blanket of animal fur and a lit campfire next to it. It all looks worn in and used like it's been here for a while. "Welcome to my humble abode!" My posture shifts into an uneasy stand in reminder of the home I had just lost. The young man must have noticed the change in my mood as he switches subjects.
"Are you hungry? I can go hunt us some food." I stay quiet as I fight off the tears from escaping my lids by harshly chewing on the inside of my mouth. Before I make myself bleed from the hard grip, the boy takes my hands and hold them without saying a word. He does his special little thumb rub and lets me take in the consolation. Shockingly, he moves in for a hug, catching me by surprise. I stand stiff as he wraps his arms around my torso into a perfect squeeze. Not too tight nor too loose. I hesitantly do the same, feeling more of that comfort I crave for. This tops any of those caressing thumb thingies he does. Between the sweet odor he gives off and the way my head fits perfectly beneath his chin giving me a pocket to rest in, I feel like all my worries washed away. His hold becomes a blanket of protection, and I don't want it to end. I want to stay in this bubble and float away as I watch my problems stay behind.
Sadly, that bubble popped as his hands let go and are down by his sides. "I’ll help you find your friend, but first we need to eat and get some rest." My head shoots up with excitement and a slight smile is plastered on my face causing the boy to smile back. After being up close and really focused on his face, I noticed the small gap in his teeth and the sharp cupid’s bow above his lip. Three little moles spread across his face and in the corner of his eye are tiny scars. Every little feature I notice distracts me from the somber feelings I had earlier. He notices my curious eyes and laughs to himself, shaking me out of my trance. "I'm going to get us some food. Take a nap while I'm gone." He says grabbing for his hunting gear. I take a seat on to the surprisingly comfy bed and slouch at the news of his absence. "Don't worry. I won't be long." He flashes a smile before flying off. Those last words gave me some reassurance as I stare at the empty spot where he once stood. I look down at the bed and let my fingers run through the thick coat of fur. I try not to think of what animal he killed to get this by thinking
make myself comfortable. It’s like a nest as I nuzzle my way into a spot I fit perfectly in. Once I find that spot, I let my eyes close, and my ears listen to the crackling sound of the fire and the water running in the distance. My body feels at ease and is ready to sleep, but the thoughts of Violet keep me awake. That dreadful pain sneaks its way back into my chest leaving its torture. I can't bare it anymore, so I let the waters run and sobs choke much like the waterfall; harsh and loud.
Chapter 8 (conclusion)
“Justin is the name”, the boy with hazel eyes said to me after we finish our meal before setting off on our adventure. I finally gained the courage to share mine after lunch. He must have realized I was crying before due to the puffy redness shown on my face and the way I felt his eyes on me, following my every move. Even now, I can still feel him watching me as we fly through the trees in search of Violet. I make quick looks to the side and watch as he snaps his head back in front of him, as if he wasn't looking. I stop in my tracks making him slow down and turn in my direction with a questioning stare. "Could you stop staring at me ... please." I whisper while looking down at my hands. I watch him let out a long sigh and start to make his way towards me. "I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd notice." "You don't have to pity me." I say quietly once more. "No, no I wasn't!" Justin shoots out with wide eyes and shaky hands. My eyes wander at the way he starts to chew on his already torn nails. I make sure to look at every finger and notice how all his nails are chewed down past his skin.
"I just. . . find you really fascinating." I'm taken back by the comment and question if he’s being serious. " I know you were crying earlier but when I saw your eyes, I was somehow drawn to them. Something about them made me more curious about you." I notice how he fumbles over his words and makes no effort in making eye contact, but I can feel a slight warmth cover my cheeks in the process. "Not to mention, you're very gorgeous." He laughs to himself, and I turn red.
I'm caught off guard when a loud snap pierces through my ears. My body jolts and we both turn toward the direction of the noise. The leaves start to rustle, and my body is pulled back behind branches, waiting for the big reveal. I begin to nibble at my bottom lip hard hoping that whatever there is a bright, majestic butterfly with her purple wings fluttering behind her. My anticipation grows the more I wait in silence and the only thing I hear is the sound of my heart pumping its blood through my ears. Suddenly, a creature with brown fur and a large fluffy tail appears from the tree with its beady eyes blinking back at us.
I let my shoulders slump in disappointment and the squirrel runs away for the next branch. Justin breathes out the air he was holding as a sigh of relief. I sit there for a moment and watch the squirrel find its friend as they chase each other around in circles, jumping to another tree and disappearing into the secrets of the forest. I let the quiet take over me and the wind sends a cold chill down my spine, but a quick shiver spread throughout my body when I hear a faint sob in the distance. I focus my attention on the pained cries and see past my floating feet a small figure. The beaming color of purple catches my eye, causing them to water at the familiar sight. I slowly make my way towards Violet, watching as her body jolts with every breath.
I leave Justin behind because I'm too afraid Violet will disappear if she leaves my line of sight. My heart is beating so loud, I can hear it in my ears, blocking everything out and I'm left focusing on her and how her body gets bigger the closer I get. My head scrambles with thoughts of what to say and the possibilities of what will happen. What if she still hates me? What if she pushes me away again? I'm not ready for that but I must try. I can't lose her. At this point, I'm inches away from Violet, almost arm's length, but suddenly I'm too scared to move. In front of me, a large net covers Violet, trapping her and a childlike hand grabs for it. The humans’ wide orbs observe Violet like she's a prize and smiles with joy.
Anger spills over me until a loud voice booms through the thick air, catching the child and l's attention. I turn my head in the direction of where the voice is coming from but when I turn back to the young girl, I see her put Violet into a glass jar and place it into one of the back pockets of her baggy overalls. The little girl takes off in the direction of the voice and I waste no time and chase after her, but something grabs my wrist and stops me. I turn and see Justin with an angered, yet worried expression. "August what do you think you're doing? You're going to get yourself killed!" He says out of breath. "It's Violet, I found her." I explain pointing towards the child in the overalls. I watch as his shoulders slump, still not letting go of my hand. "We can't just chase after humans like that. It’s too dangerous." I see his eyes show sympathy, starting to make me doubtful, but I don't let it get to me.
I think back to her harsh words from before she left me. I can't let Violet go again, especially not over the words of a guy. So, I free my hand from his hold and take off. "I'm going, but if you're too scared to come,
so be it." I say before leaving and without looking back. . . . I fly as in the speed of light, faster than I've ever flown before, following close behind the young girl as she jumps and leaps over obstacles scattered throughout the forest floor. I push myself forward with more wind power, determined to get Violet out of there. Finally, I'm able to reach the jar and hang on to the lid. Inside I see Violet with her head in her knees, not making any effort to escape. I tap on the glass, letting her know I'm here and I watch as her face lights up. A huge smile spreads throughout my face when I see the joy in her eyes and her pearly white teeth, making me feel good that she's happy to see me. Violet jumps to her feet and begins to bang on the glass with her tiny fist. I pay attention to how her mouth moves like words are coming out, but the thick glass is blocking her voice, making her words muffled. I shake my head and mouth the words "I can't hear you" and make my way towards the lid of the jar to start turning it. As I get my grip on the bronze rim and my feet adjusted around the glass, I turn it as hard as I can, but it doesn't budge.
Violet notices my struggle and helps by turning the lid from the inside. Both our eyes are squeezed shut as we put all our strength into opening the lid but don't succeed. Sitting on top of the jar, I let out an angered sigh and my head hung low as it bounces with every step the young girl takes. With not much left to do, I sit there for a moment to think. What am I going to do? Suddenly, I'm knocked back into reality by a faint tapping on the glass from Violet. I peak my head down below the jar and see her pointing at something ahead. I follow the direction of where she’s pointing and see a tiny figure. I squint my eyes to get a better look and notice the familiar torso that belongs to Justin. A big smile appears on my lips, and I begin to wave him down. Waiting for his arrival, I hear the roar of thunder and a quick flash of light behind the dark clouds. In a panic, I continue back on trying to open the jar the best I can. "We need to hurry. It’s going to pour any second." Justin says rushing over to help. We all get in position and start turning. I can feel my hands begin to blister and bleed from the tight grip on the sharp ridges indented on the rim. Justin even starts to kick the lid but still no budge.
I stop for a moment to catch my breath and to ease my hands. I look to my side and see that Violet’s eyes become glossy while looking at my palms. She catches me looking at her and finally lets those tears fall. Watching her tears slide down Violet’s rosy, freckled cheeks ignites something in me that is more than determination. Something that tells me I absolutely need this person and would do anything to keep them here with me. Something that if I lost this person, I would lose myself. Something that I would give or do anything to see or make this person smile. Something that whenever I see this person cry, I would do anything in my power to make that pain go away. And I'm not going to give up on that, so I squeeze my hands and forget about the pain. I quickly fly into the pocket of the girls’ overalls and call Justin to help. He sees me push up underneath the jar and repeats my actions while Violet notices and pushes up on the lid. Working together, the heavy glass jar begins to lift but goes back down when the young girl jumps. We don't give up and continue to push until I make out what the little girl yells. "RAIN!" She shouts and runs faster than before causing the jar to slowly slip out on its own. We keep pushing together and with a final jump from the girl, the jar flies out with Justin and I still holding on. The glass hits a hard rock, causing it to break and shards of glass scatter everywhere. Unable to fly in the rain, me and Justin hit the ground hard, almost knocking us out.
My ears ring and my vision goes blurry. I lay there for a moment until I gain enough energy to move and check if everyone's okay. Next to me I see Justin standing up with one hand on his hip and the other resting on his head, rubbing it gently. My eyes roam for those purple wings finally catching my attention at the top of the rock. Trying to avoid any drop of rain, I race to the top of the rock and see her body not moving. I drop to my knees and turn her over, revealing her delicate face. Searching around for a safe place to hide, I see Justin waving me down at a mossy log. Quickly, I pick her up with the little power I have left and run towards safety. I'm almost there when a giant drop of rain hits my wings, causing me to tumble to the ground, dropping Violet in the process. Justin wastes no time in dragging us both inside the log. Immediately, I sat next to Violet and put her head in my lap to check if she's breathing. Just barely, I feel her breath against my cheek, but it comes out slow and painful. My eyes begin to swell up as I run one hand over her hair and the other holding on to her cheek. "Come on. Stay with me Violet" I choke out, barely breathing myself. "I need you." As I sit there and rock her, a slight cough escapes from Violet making me go still. I watch as her eyes start to blink and barely open in my direction.
"I know." Violet says laughing to herself. In the back I hear a quiet chuckle come from Justin, but I don't laugh. Instead, I’m too busy trying to get her in my embrace and squeeze her in a bone crushing hug. I sob some more into the crook of her neck, feeling that it's her turn to caress my head. I stay in her hold not wanting to ever let go and have the possibility of losing her again. "I'm so, so sorry August." Still holding on to her, I move back and look at her with a questioned stare. “I didn't mean to push you away. I was just angry at the thought of
losing you, to a guy, No offense." She says looking at Justin. We all let out a quick laugh. "I spent so much time in this fairytale searching for the one person that would help me get out, but what I needed to be looking for was the person I can't live without and that's you." My brows form into a deep frown, confused by what Violet has just said. My brain runs with so many questions, but I must know one thing first. "What about your mom? Is she okay?" I say watching as she looks down at our hands and then back up at me. "That woman is not my mother. She's my guide and when I went to search for her, I couldn't find her so she must have gotten out before the crash." I sigh in relief but jump back into confusion. A guide? Like Violet is to me? Before I can say another word, I become lightheaded. With the impact and the many thoughts circling my brain, my head begins to sting, and my vision goes blurry once again. My ears start to ring, blocking out any sound around me.
After some time, the ringing goes down and all I can hear are the muffled voices of Violet and Justin. I can only make out the quiet words of Violet when she says, “Please don't leave," and "you're my home. My best friend." I try to get my mouth to move to say something, anything, but nothing comes out. My body is far too weak. I can feel the way Violet leans down and how Justin's hand takes ahold of my free hand, doing his thumb caress thing again. Violet squeezes her arms tightly around me, leaving me cradled in her arms. I can feel how her head makes its way towards the crook of my neck by the warm tears that fall to my shoulder. Very faintly, I hear the words "I love you." sending a bolt of electricity throughout my body. That spark gave my body one last push of energy, giving the muscle in one of my arms to work and giving Violet one last squeeze before letting the darkness take over me. . .
. . . A beam of light shines over my closed lids, causing me to wake up from my slumber. My eves blink at the bright light and notice the familiar surroundings. I'm back in my room. My real-life bedroom with all my belongings. I sit up and let my eyes wander. This can't be real. I jump up out of bed and run to my full-sized mirror, noticing my wings are gone and the scars on my hands have disappeared. I stare back into the mirror and see I'm dressed in my casual pair of pajamas with a messy bun thrown on my head. How am I back home? I think back to the words Violet said when we first met. "Once you found your home here, you'll wake up one morning back to normal." But I never found my home. Then it hits me. Violet became the person I found home in. The thought of Violet makes me tear up, missing her and her presence. I start to imagine her in my head; with her long black hair that shimmered and her dark skin that was so smooth. How her smile would gleam in the sun or even in the darkest of places and the bright sparkle of purple that shone behind her back. The memories we made together flash by, and I think of how we couldn't have done our adventures without each other. We truly needed one another.
I collapse to the ground and begin to break down in tears, letting out harsh sobs. I don't stop until I feel a slight touch on my knee. I look up from behind my hands and see a butterfly with gorgeous purple wings staring back at me. My body stays still before a wide smile creep to my lips. I chuckle to myself at the thought that this butterfly being Violet and she must have escaped from her fairytale as well. I wipe my tears, still watching the butterfly flutter its wings on my knee but a loud voice from a far wakes me from my daze. "August! Breakfast is ready!" My dad says with his voice beaming through the walls. Hearing his voice again makes my smile even brighter. I wipe the snot dripping from my nose and yell back the words "I’ll be right there." I turn my attention back to the butterfly, thinking of what I should do. Not wanting to let go of something so special, I think about keeping her here with me. If I made her a pen, would she like it? But then I think back to the young girl trapping her inside that jar, making me realize how selfish it would be to keep her here. This isn't her real home. She deserves to be free so that's what I do. I let her crawl onto my finger and take her towards my window. Before opening it, I let out a deep sigh and choke out the words "thank you." Thank you for being the greatest friend I could ask for. Thank you for all the laughs and cries. Thank you for all the adventures and friends I made on the way. Thank you for always coming back to me. Mostly, thank you for helping me find my home. Opening the latch, she flies off but turns around and lands on my nose. Violet stays there for a moment, letting the silence take over once more. I think of this as her way of saying thank you for letting her free but also helping her escape. I close my eyes, taking in the unspoken silence and finish the unsaid words from before. “I love you too." Then she's gone. I watch as her bright colors disappear into the pink sky and behind the clouds, leaving me behind for good. I wipe away the tears I had left and ran for the kitchen to embrace my dad. I'm finally home.
The End
Notice of Non-Discrimination
No person shall, on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, genetic information, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, medical condition, national origin, political beliefs, pregnancy, race, religion, religious beliefs, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity, or in any employment conditions or practices conducted by this School District, except as provided by law.
Reasonable accommodations are provided for persons with disabilities to complete the application and/or interview process. Applicants/individuals with disabilities requesting accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may contact 772-429-7500 for assistance.
Person designated to handle inquiries and complaints regarding the School Board’s non-discrimination policies:
◦Heather Roland EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES 9461 Brandywine Lane Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
◦Office: (772) 429-4521 Fax: (772) 429-4528 E-mail: [email protected]
Non-Discrimination Policy Inquiries and Complaints by Employees and Applicants for Employment:
◦Rafael Sanchez EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES 9461 Brandywine Lane Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
◦Office: (772) 429-7508 Fax: (772) 429-7501 E-mail: [email protected]
Inquiries and Complaints under SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973 should be directed to the School Board’s Section 504 Compliance Officer, the Executive Director of Student Services, contact information listed above.
If due to a disability you need special accommodations to receive School Board information or to participate in School Board functions, call (772) 429-3600 and ask for the School Board Secretary. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) phone (772) 429-3919.
No person shall, on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, genetic information, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, medical condition, national origin, political beliefs, pregnancy, race, religion, religious beliefs, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity, or in any employment conditions or practices conducted by this School District, except as provided by law.
Reasonable accommodations are provided for persons with disabilities to complete the application and/or interview process. Applicants/individuals with disabilities requesting accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may contact 772-429-7500 for assistance.
Person designated to handle inquiries and complaints regarding the School Board’s non-discrimination policies:
◦Heather Roland EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES 9461 Brandywine Lane Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
◦Office: (772) 429-4521 Fax: (772) 429-4528 E-mail: [email protected]
Non-Discrimination Policy Inquiries and Complaints by Employees and Applicants for Employment:
◦Rafael Sanchez EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES 9461 Brandywine Lane Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
◦Office: (772) 429-7508 Fax: (772) 429-7501 E-mail: [email protected]
Inquiries and Complaints under SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973 should be directed to the School Board’s Section 504 Compliance Officer, the Executive Director of Student Services, contact information listed above.
If due to a disability you need special accommodations to receive School Board information or to participate in School Board functions, call (772) 429-3600 and ask for the School Board Secretary. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) phone (772) 429-3919.