The Blue Bird

Chapter Nine: Becoming Azure

“The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.” These words echoed in Jay’s mind as he stood before the mirror in his room. He was determined, more than ever, to become the best version of himself—not for the approval of others, but for his own peace of mind. Something had shifted inside him during this trip. He had found a glimmer of happiness within himself, and he wasn’t going to let go of it.

But the journey wasn’t over. Not yet.

It was the last night at the resort, and tomorrow they would all be heading back to reality—classes, work, the mundane grind of life. Jay had grown fond of the quiet moments Alaska had offered, and the thought of returning to the pressures of everyday life felt daunting. He sat in his room, pondering the words of wisdom Mrs. Aurora had shared with him, and how this trip had somehow changed him in ways he couldn’t yet understand.

Just as he was drifting off to sleep, a soft knock on his door startled him awake. He glanced at the clock—11:11. Rubbing his eyes, Jay walked groggily to the door and opened it.

There she stood, radiant as ever. Mrs. Aurora, her beauty glowing in the dim light of the hallway, smiled warmly. “Can I come in?” she asked, but before he could respond, she had already stepped into the room with a graceful glide, as if she belonged there. In her hand, she held something familiar—a blue suede diary.

“I found your book by the poolside,” she said, placing the diary gently on the small table. “I was looking for you, but I couldn’t find you, so I left it at the front desk. I hope that’s okay.”

Jay stood frozen, barely able to find his words. His heart pounded in his chest, both from the shock of seeing her and the embarrassment that she had found his diary—the one place where his deepest thoughts were laid bare.

Before he could form a response, she smiled and said something that made his heart skip a beat. “Jay, I choose you.”

Jay’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean, you choose me?” he asked, his voice a little shaky.

Mrs. Aurora stepped closer, her eyes locking onto his. “I choose you,” she repeated, her voice softer now, almost a whisper. She continued walking toward him, and before Jay could comprehend what was happening, she leaned in and kissed him.

He was stunned, caught completely off guard. Her kiss was intoxicating, and before long, he found himself lost in her touch. It was as though he had been pulled into a dream, where time slowed and reality blurred. They moved together with an intensity that neither of them had expected, sharing a night of passion that left Jay breathless and reeling. It was his first time, and she knew it—guiding him with tenderness and care.

As they lay together afterward, her voice broke the silence. “From this day on, you are an Azure,” she whispered, her breath warm against his skin. And with that, they both slipped into a deep sleep, their bodies entwined, as if the very air between them had shifted.

But morning came too soon.

The sound of students rushing down the hall pulled Jay from his dreams. The chaos of their departure echoed through the halls, with voices shouting, “Last one to the bus has to sit with the teachers!”

Jay blinked, disoriented. He sat up in bed, his mind racing. Had it all been real? He glanced around the room, searching for some sign that last night had happened, but the only thing that caught his eye was his diary, still sitting on the small table where Mrs. Aurora had left it.

“What the hell?” he muttered to himself, running his hands through his hair. It felt so surreal. The night, the passion, the words—You are an Azure. The phrase kept replaying in his head. He stood up and wandered to the bathroom, stepping into the shower. As the warm water washed over him, he felt… different. There was a confidence, a sense of power that he hadn’t felt before. He couldn’t explain it, but something inside him had changed.

After getting dressed and packing his bags, Jay hurried out of the room. He needed to speak with Mrs. Aurora. He needed answers. Was what she had said last night true? Had he really become something more? An Azure?

He searched the halls, looking for her. He asked a few students if they had seen her, but no one seemed to know where she was. Eventually, he ran into the gym teacher, who told him, “I saw her earlier, out in the garden at the back of the resort.”

Confused by this, Jay headed outside. The wind had picked up, making it hard to see as it whipped through the trees. The back of the resort seemed oddly deserted, the quiet a stark contrast to the bustling front where everyone was preparing to leave.

As he walked toward the garden, Jay suddenly stopped. Through the gusts of wind, he saw an old woman sitting on a bench, her back turned to him. It couldn’t be—Mrs. Aurora? His breath caught in his throat as she slowly turned to face him.

It was her. The same beautiful features, but her once youthful face was now lined with age. Her eyes, however, were just as bright, filled with the same wisdom and kindness he had always known. She smiled at him, and Jay felt a deep sadness wash over him.

Without a word, the wind began to swirl around her, stronger now, as if the very air was responding to her presence. Her smile grew as she looked at him one last time, and then, with a graceful turn, her body began to dissolve into dust. The wind carried her away, scattering her into the sky like ash, until nothing remained but a single blue bird perched on the bench where she had been sitting.

Jay stood frozen, his mind racing, his heart aching. The bird, a brilliant azure color, turned its dark eyes toward him and chirped softly, the sound almost melodic.

He knew then, without a doubt, that Mrs. Aurora had given him a gift—a gift he hadn’t yet begun to understand. And as the bird spread its wings and took flight, disappearing into the sky, Jay whispered to himself, “I am an Azure.”

He didn’t fully grasp what that meant, but he knew his life would never be the same.