The skies are an ugly shade of gray. Lighting strikes through the sky and the thunder rumbles. Could this day get any worse? I failed my Chemistry quiz. I accidentally dropped my food tray because I saw the stupid guy I liked. Now, I will be wet any minute now because it's starting to drizzle and I don't have an umbrella. It's not like I've never experienced being so unlucky. In fact, my whole life was a joke.
Broken family. Bullied. Financial problems. Not enough intelligence. I didn't have a great childhood. Well, you can say I never had any childhood.
The rain starts to pour and I run to the bus station as quickly as I can. A bus stopped and I get in on it. There was no one else in the bus except the driver, an old lady, a mother with her baby, and a guy my age. I take a seat at the back, wetting the floor as do so. The guy eyed me like I was an interesting specimen. Maybe I was. A soaking wet, hopeless homo sapien. The bus idled and chugged to life.
Our flat is not so small. There are two rooms, one for me and one for my mother and sister. As usual, my mother's not home yet when I arrive. She works over time for us. My sister was staying with Luke, our father. He offered for me to come but here I am, trying to compose myself as I open the door to my room.
I go to my room and turn off the lights.
My consciousness is already fading when I hear a knock. My eyes flutter open, adjusting to the darkness. There was a knock again, but it was not coming from the door. It's coming from the... window.
A light was floating across the room. Like a firefly. It was…. Jingling. How could this be? I turn on my lamp and I see it clearly. It’s a fairy. The window started to open and the guy from the bus came in, flying.
My heart is thumping. Peter Pan? In my room?
***
I open my eyes and I see blue sky. The wind is blowing my hair. I'm flying. And he's carrying me.
I didn't say anything. We land on the shore.He sets me down on the rocks and he smiles. "Am I in Neverland?" I ask.
"Yes, young lady," he says. He's tall, blonde and blue-eyed. He's wearing a white tee, and jeans. Not those green leafy things.
"Why did you bring me here? Why were you on a bus?"
"I brought you here so you could have happiness. I could show you around."
"Why were you on a bus?" I ask again.
"Come on," he says, tugging me along with him and I let him. I didn't care. I wanted happiness, even just for a while.
He shows me the lagoon, where the mermaids sing me a song. Their voices are incredible! He showers me with pixie dust and I fly through the sky, feeling the wind in my hair. I've never felt so light. He then leads me to the tree house, only me and him. "How did you find me?" I ask him warily.
"At the bus. You looked so down, I thought maybe I could help.I came to find you. One night, I had a dream about a girl, you. Your face never left my mind.. I had to find you."
"I.. did not expect that. But, I can't stay here. My mom needs me. I have to get back." He looks down at me with those blue eyes.
"I know. I'll bring you home, but I want to give you this," he says while handing me a locket. "Open that and I will come," he adds.
"Thank you. I've never been this happy."
He carries me back to the real world. I close my eyes.
When I open them, I'm back on my bed. It's still evening. The light outside my room is on, meaning my mom is already home. I get up and go outside. My mom is eating dinner, and she was... smiling.
"Mom? Are you okay?"
"Willow, honey! Guess what? I just got promoted!" she says, beaming with joy. I hug her and tears start to sting my eyes. "When is Kimmy going home?" I ask her.
"Tomorrow, dear. Now, go to sleep. You have school tomorrow. Goodnight, midget," She kisses my forehead, and so I get back to my room.
On my bed, the locket is there, waiting to be opened at the right time. One thing I learned from today is life is like flying through the air. Whenever there is a turbulence, never land. There is hope.