“Butterfly Soul.” A Short Tale of Friendship.
I was writing a short story on ‘Friendship’ for a writing group that I’m part of. After 2 first attempts this 3rd draft was the one. So ladies and gentlemen, I give you “Butterfly Soul.” …
Diego changed me.
Was that right? Zelda thought it was so she continued.
When he entered my life I was suddenly a different person. Before then I had often been shy, passive, or angry. Mama knew why that was. Papa’s death hadn’t been easy for her either. However, when Diego came my whole being morphed back into the happy, bright, and cheerful person I had been before. Diego himself was full of energy and nearly always had a joke to spare if someone was down in the dumps.
His hair was a very light golden color, so bright and blinding it could have been the sun, and he loved animals. We would sit for ages in the garden listening to birdsong and spotting squirrels. Maybe we’d then pick-up a game of badminton or dance among the trees and flowers. Those days never seemed to end, like they went on forever and ever. If only…
Zelda paused a moment before carrying on, caught up in memories.
Yet, those long, blissful, summer days did come to a close and so did the free, happy times.
Zelda now had to force herself to go on.
On the second of September, Diego came to me all sad, sorrowful and gloomy. “What’s up Go-Go?” I asked, concerned for my friend, he wasn’t normally like this. What was happening to make him so? “I’m leaving,” he said to the floor. “What?”
I whispered the word, wishing for it not to be true, for it to be a dream. My body, mind, and soul had gone numb as soon as he’d said the word ‘leaving’.
“I always knew the day would come but I didn’t want it to be now.” I didn’t say a word. “You see,” he said slowly. “I’m a faerie,” he told me abruptly.
I nearly choked. “W…w…what?” I spluttered. “I can prove it if you like,” he offered sullenly. I nodded with some uncertainty. Diego took a deep breath, holding all the air in his cheeks, he looked like a hamster, and suddenly he wasn’t Diego anymore. Where there should have been a normal human boy, in his place was a jumping broad bean, and it was emitting a yellowish-green glow.
I gasped and didn’t know what to say or where to even begin. Diego reappeared and let out all the breath from his mouth. “Do you see now?” he asked, gasping and trying to recover his breath. I nodded again, struck dumb. My mouth tried to say words but the sound didn’t come out. “Why are you going?” I managed hoarsely. Diego sighed deeply. “You see, because I’m a faerie I’m not really from this world. I’m from the Faerie Land World, which exists in a whole other universe. My friends and I were only visiting Your World for a brief period for faerie schooling. In person research, that kind of thing, you know. And now we must leave. My friends are already waiting outside in your garden, see,” Diego pointed out of the window where a dozen or so butterflies were gathered together in a cluster. “I must join them,” he said. Tears started welling in my throat and then dripping gently down my face.
Zelda’s eyes were going blurry, misted with tears even now and she took a breath before going on.
“Now?” I asked huskily. “Now,” he confirmed gently but firmly. I let out a sob, crumbling to the floor in a messy heap. Diego stood there awkwardly for a while watching me cry noisily. Then he shifted his position and came over. He knelt down beside me and looked sternly into my face.
Zelda gave a harsh but tentative cough to stop the tears from rising any further and then took a deep breath to collect herself and she then carried on writing.
He spoke softly but with authority. “Zelda, I know that you are stronger than you may think. You have a deep, loving, but sensitive soul. Me, I’m just a butterfly soul. I have too much energy that I cannot express, I flitter restlessly from place to place, not sure of where to land. Yet you, you know your ground, your space; when you need a break you take it, when someone damages your boundaries you tell them. You have many reliable resources within you. Your dad died and you’re still going strong. Although you may not acknowledge it or trust it, you have a wise, powerful soul. For you to be whole, you do not need my unsteady, depleting soul; your wholeness is standing waiting for you, you just need to allow yourself to find it.”
“But… how can I find it?” I asked, gulping down my sobs. “Here,” Diego said and then muttered the words ‘lux tua hic est’ under his breath. Suddenly, a great big ball of glowing embers appeared, hovering just above Diego’s hands. I gasped hoarsely. “This Great Ball Of Embers may help you regain your strength and wholeness,” he said and then gently pushed The Great Ball Of Embers into my torso. I yelled, surprised it didn’t burn me, instead it slowly evaporated into my tummy. I could instantly feel a warm glow emitted through my whole being until I felt full up with it.
“That will help you to recognize your strength, power, and endurance,” Diego told me. And I could feel it. He quickly glanced out of the window. “I need to go, Zel,” he whispered to me softly. “You’ll be alright now.” I nodded. “I know but I’ll miss you Go-Go,” I said and gave him a big hug. “Me too, Zel, me too,” and with that, he turned into a butterfly and flew out the window to join his friends. I watched them fly off until they were just a speck in the distance.
Zelda let out a long breath; she was done and it felt good. She ran from her bedroom, jumping and leaping as she went. And as Zelda laughed, the pieces of paper were whisked away by the wind and carried out into the world.
The End!
Hetty Monksea
