Of Fairies and Noontime

The Tree

A blanket of stars covered the land sooner than later. Hadley and Ellabelle were making their way back home from their cliffside view.

"So... you never really knew your parents, huh?" Hadley asked, breaking the silence. When she didn't receive a response, she began to worry. "I mean... sorry, I didn't mean to.."

"No, no! It's ok, you're fine. It's hard for me to talk about, even though I basically just told you my whole life story." Ellabelle sighed. She pushed some loose hairs behind her ear. "I was really young after everything that happened. I can only remember the faint outline of my parents, but never the entire picture. I've always been intimidated by the Tree of Ancestors because I'm ashamed of what I did, even if it wasn't entirely my fault. It scares me to see who my parents actually are because I know they didn't want me. They left me behind, and I don't ever want to show my face to them, whether it's on a scroll, in a book, or face-to-face." She shook her head. Her tone was the quietest it had ever been; Hadley was leaning in closer just to hear what she had to say.

"Well... I think it might be beneficial, seeing who they are. Or were, even." Hadley said, her tone soft. "I know they left you and you're still very upset about that fact, because they basically ruined your life. But you just have to forgive them, and..." Hadley stopped in her sentence, feeling like a hypocrite. She was trying to help Ellabelle with her parent situation when she herself had a parent situation. She wasn't following her own advice.

"You ok?" Ellabelle asked Hadley.

"Yeah, sorry. Just started thinking." Hadley replied. "You know, in all reality, you and I are quite the same."

Ellabelle didn't know how to respond, so she just smiled. She did understand what Hadley meant, though; she felt more connected to this human than she ever did to any fairy in her world.

"If It were my decision, I'd want to see who my parents were. And then I'd want to forgive them." Hadley whispered, poking Ellabelle in the arm.

Ellabelle had thought about this matter for years; there was just no way she could bring herself to do that.

But a little voice inside her was curious. She wanted to know her story. She wanted to remember the whole picture. And she would never be able to do that without her parents, who were the final missing pieces to the puzzle.

Ellabelle and Hadley slowly hovered down to the ground, and Ellabelle opened her front door for the both of them.

"It's just a thought." Hadley added, grabbing Garivo and her blanket, getting comfortable. "I'm gonna do some reading before bed. Thanks for helping to train me. I really appreciate it."

Ellabelle just stood by her door, looking out the window at the moon. She couldn't stop thinking about it. Was she finally ready to uncover the last secret remaining?

She turned to look at Hadley. She already had her head buried in the book.

Ellabelle couldn't take it anymore. There seemed to be a force pushing her towards the door. She felt tears overtake her eyes. With quick, quiet movements, she grabbed the white cloak from her closet that she let Hadley borrow before. As a droplet fell from her cheek, she looked back at Hadley, then slowly opened her front door. After closing it, she put up her hood and began running through town.

Her mind was racing. She couldn't believe she was doing this. She didn't understand how someone so against her parents, like Hadley, could give her such great advice.

Ellabelle hid behind houses and ran past buildings, staying silent until she made it to the tree. She looked upon its twisty branches in awe and bit her lip.