Firefly.

By Jessica Solano

This life isn’t mine. I had one, once upon a time. It was taken in the most agonizing way and so early, and then forced to live in this one. I find myself in a pit of three venomous snakes. Trapped in a filthy place that I must call home, where at every corner I can hear their silent hisses from all directions afraid that their fangs will strike at any moment.

The only thing that keeps me sane is only a few yards away from me. A small blue worn out cottage house that appears to be seconds away from collapsing. It kept a family wholesome. My family. Our little house stored many beautiful memories of my mother and father. At night, it lured many fireflies—fairies, I used to call them. I smiled at the memory when I first encountered them.

Opening the front porch door, I found my father sitting on the white wooden bench. He stares at the dark sky as he always does after a long day of work. I walked towards him and laid myself on his lap. I laid my tiny head against his thighs, staring up at the vibrant stars—a scene so serene that we always shared.

I turned my attention away from the stars and focused on my dad. A funny black bushy mustache that I used to mess with when he would carry me in his arms, sits right above his lips. His dark midnight hair was opposite to my light brown locks. His olive skin against my light complexion. His dark brown eyes are far from my moss green. There were no physical similarities between us, and to everyone, we don’t look related. My mother, on the other hand, was my twin. I’d never understood our differences. I saw other kids who looked exactly like their father. But not me, why?

My dad smiled down at me and started to caress my forehead down to my hair. The warmth of his hand was like a sleeping potion. My tired eyes began to close, slowly losing sight of his face. The sound of crickets and swaying leaves were drifting from my ears.

A bright light appeared behind my eyelids suddenly. Confused, I opened them and found twinkling small floating yellow lights. I gasped, sitting up quickly.

My father laughed at my reaction. I’ve never seen this before. They looked like—"Fairies!” I yelled with glee, slapping my hand against my mouth, aweing at the sight.

“Mija, they are not called fairies but fireflies. They come out to spread their light during the summer nights.” My father said with patience and compassion.

“They are so pretty, daddy.” I whispered, afraid that they’d leave if I am too loud.

Daddy slaps his hands against his thighs and stands up. “Let’s light up your room with a jar filled with them, yeah?”

I nodded my head frantically with excitement.

He stalks inside the house and left me outside with these pretty creatures alone.

More fairies gathered around me, blinding me with their light. I stood up, lifting my hands to reach them. I twirled inside their circle and felt alive. This was a magical moment, and I didn’t want it to end. I felt their bodies, and some landed on my fingertips.

Breaking twigs and old fallen leaves broke my excitement. My burrows furrowed, and I looked over to the cluster of trees. As I walked down the porch steps, the fairies followed. Peering behind the thickest tree, I saw movement. Someone is here. There was more scrambling. They’re hiding. They were secretly watching me.

Why?

Then…

A tall figure steps out from hiding.

More brightening fairies came, scattering throughout the forest, and surrounded the mysterious person, making it easier to see them.

It wasn’t a man… but a boy. A really tall boy. Almost as tall as my father.

He took big strides towards me, his face becoming more visible, but stopped suddenly. The look on his face was frightening. He looked furious and threatening. The anger doesn’t compliment his soft face, the mouth of his should smile and his cerulean eyes should spark with happiness like mine—as in this moment, a moment that he ruined with his disturbing rage—but they are burning with fury. Just a few feet away from me, I could feel his aura and it’s something I’m not used to.

We’re both standing in a circle of silence with floating yellow lights that my fairies graced us with. It is like we were trapped in both space and time. Goosebumps trailed down my arms, but I wasn’t sure if it was the cold breeze or him.

His hands are balled into fist, trying to hold back. Why is he angry? I wanted to ask him. I didn’t dare myself, because it’s like an unpredictable stray who is ready to pounce if bothered.

The creak of the spring door opening never broke our connection. I was too transfixed on him. My father walked into my peripheral view.

“Daddy, who is that?” I whispered weakly, keeping my eyes on him. Part of me doesn’t trust him but I want to. I want to be friends with him. Something tells me that he needed one, desperately.

“Nathaniel, the Lauders’ older son.” He muttered.

He is a Lauder. His parents are my daddy’s boss. They're the owners of my house which makes him, Nathan, the owner of our lives. My life. Why haven’t I seen him before? Right, someone like him doesn’t surround himself with the help.

If Nathan has it all, why is he angry?

It seems I’m not the only one who can feel his ominous energy. My dad wrapped his arms around me and took me back to the house. I looked over my shoulder to see him one last time. He never frayed;. standing still like a statue. His eyes never leave mine. As the door closed, so did our connection.

Daddy carried me to my room and tucked me in. He kissed me goodnight and walked out. I rolled onto my side and stared outside my window to find twinkling stars.

Knowing that he lives here, sparked my curiosity to seek him out. To make him my friend. To calm his demons. I am sure that I will see him again.

Noticing that the room is dark, daddy didn’t keep his word on lighting up my room with fairies.

Because of Nathan, the brooding boy, I slept in darkness for the night.