The Butterfly Link {PewDieCry}

~*~p r o l o g u e~*~

My exodus began on a cold Sunday evening in autumn. I was making my way through the icy sidewalks that led up to my neighbourhood after a play-date with my friend. Not having a jacket, I was in quite a hurry to return to my house and tried not to interact with many things along the way. It truly was dangerous to be out at this hour, especially being a fragile nine-year-old with no martial arts practice. I suppose I shouldn’t have been walking home at all by myself. However, there was no one to take me. No one who cared about my safety, at least. My step-mother, Kate, was too caught up in her own emotions to deal with me. Our money was used for the rent, the bills, and alcohol, and also a few trips to Starbucks every now and then. Food was “Your concern, if you want to eat.”

As I passed a Sally Beauty Supply, I noticed an orange butterfly. It was unique, as it had small specks of white on its wings like it’d been hit with tiny paintballs. It fluttered its wings a bit before settling down on an abandoned Blythe doll. The doll had short, floppy blond hair and sky-blue eyes, with black thick-framed glasses and a silver-grey scarf wrapped around its shoulders. The doll also sported a white beanie, a black knitted sweater, beige khakis, and white slip-ons. Curious, I crept closer to the small insect and doll. The butterfly shifted slightly and I stopped, afraid it would fly away.

Despite my respect of the butterfly’s space, though, it fled.

I watched as the butterfly flew away, frowning deeply. I remember my lip quivering as I tried not to cry, because, if you were an eight-year-old with a butterfly that just suddenly leaves you, wouldn’t you be upset? I looked at the Blythe for what seemed like an eternity, the scarf flowing in the soft breeze. Then a small piece of pink ribbon landed in his hair. I furrowed my eyebrows, wondering it came from. The ribbon was…comforting, almost. Like the locket your grandma wears that doesn’t quite fit with her outfit, but it’s still really pretty.

 I got on my hands and knees and examined the sight before me. That perfect male doll with his floppy hair and silver scarf was in fact inanimate, but something about it made me feel like he could move and have humane functions. I crawled to him, lifting a hand to brush the ribbon away. I knew that the doll’s eyes were focused on me and I felt unsettled. Leaning closer, the tip of my finger barely made contact with a fiber of his hair when –

“Whaddya doin’?”

“AGHHHHHHHHH!” I screamed, immediately falling to the ground, covering my ears and squeezing my eyes shut.

How is this possible? This cannot be possible!

I felt a finger tap my shoulder lightly and realised that the voice had been from a HUMAN BEING, not the doll. I was instantly calmed. That had thrown me off guard for a moment. Turning around, I saw a blond boy with bright, sky-blue eyes looking back at me. I blinked and felt my mouth open slightly. He chuckled, taking a seat next to me. I sat up and scooted away. I’ve never really been comfortable with making physical contact with anyone.

“Whatever. Okay, so, for serious, what were you doing? Just staring at the butterfly and poking that doll?” inquired the boy, leaning close to my face. I backed away again.

“The butterfly was pretty. So was the doll.” The blond kid snorted, cupping my face between his hands. I felt my cheeks heat up from embarrassment. He just stared into my eyes, as if searching for something. After about a minute, he smiled, kissing my cheek. I became paralyzed, touching that spot on my face. It felt…amazing. Wonderful. I have never been kissed on the cheek before, so…I wasn’t sure what it meant at the time. Now that I do, it gives me a warm feeling to know that my first half-kiss was from that person.

“Do you know what kind of butterfly that was?” the blondie asked. I shook my head. “It was a monarch butterfly. They’re quite common in America and can travel as north as Canada and as south as Mexico City.”