Butterfly {h.s} #Wattys2016

Prologue

I ran to my mother with hot tears streaming down. She worriedly bent down to my height and spoke to me with soft words.

"Sweetie, what's the matter?"

I couldn't stop my sobs from escaping my lips. They kept interrupting me as I tried my best to speak. My mother's mouth turned down into a frown as she pulled me into her. My sobs turning from a roaring thunderstorm, to a soft rain as I took in the sweet scent of her perfume.

"Did someone make fun of you?" She asked into my back as she held me.

I was different from all the kids in my 2nd grade class. Hell, I was the weirdest kid in my grade. Well, at least that's what everyone thought. I always felt out of place. While everyone was jumping and screaming, on the playground, I made my way to the grass and sat under my favorite tree. The willow tree. I loved her so much because we shared the same name. I spent my whole three recesses under her. Everyday, I wrote, read, and sometimes just sat there and listened as the wind blew through her hair, telling me stories. She was so lovely to me. She was my only friend.

"N-No, not today." I sniffled as I held onto her tighter.

"Are you hurt?"

"Something happen to your friend?"

I shook my head and started to shake. I was gonna explode with emotion at any second. I braced myself as my lip started to quiver. My mother rubbed small circles onto my back. Small comforting circles.

"Then what-"

"The butterfly's!" I yelled finally letting all my emotions go.

I screamed as the thunderstorm came back. She pulled me back and when I looked back at her, she was laughing lightly. I wiped my eyes and tried to find out what was so funny. My head started to hurt when I couldn't figure it out.

"What's so funny? Now, I'm upset about two things." I whisper starting to break down again.

Once again she wrapped her long, thin arms around my fragile body. She hushed me and picked me up, carrying me to the couch. She sat down and turned me towards her as I was still sat on her lap. She spoke softly to me, again.

"What about the butterfly's?" She asked.

"T-they only live for one year! They die once they turn o-one!" I sobbed into my mother's shirt. She took some hair that dangled in front of my face and tucked it behind my ears. She then smiled sweetly at me.

"Yes, It's true they have a short life, but they have a beautiful one. They live better lives than probably most humans do."

I sniffled and nodded. I understood her and knew that she was probably right, but I couldn't help but still feel sad for them. She read my thoughts and quickly spoke again.

"Don't pity them. They're beautiful creatures that have wild spirits. You should envy them." She smiled and kissed my forehead.

Night time swam around us as mom finally sent me to bed. Dad was working late, so she tucked me in that night. I quickly hopped in bed, waiting for her to tuck me in. She smiled as she pulled the blanket over me, sneakily tickling me as I tried to tickle her first. Our giggles echoed through our large house. She finally hushed me, still keeping her smile.

"Sleep time. No giggles aloud."

I zipped my mouth closed and threw the key. She smiled more and kissed my forehead once again that night. I looked up at her tiredly.

"Goodnight, Willow. I love you." She whispered turning on my night light.

As she closed my door, my eyes danced their way shut. That night, I dreamed that I was a butterfly and I soared through a painted sky. The sky was splattered with baby blues, light pinks, and lime greens. The clouds looked as if they were made of cotton candy. The best part about that dream was that I felt the freedom. I felt the butterfly's wild spirit.

That next morning I woke to something shining in the corner of my eye. I looked to my windowsill and there it was, laying there. A silver chained, brightly colored butterfly necklace. The color of its wings were baby blue, light pink, and lime green. I've never smiled so wide as I took it off the windowsill and studied it. I was convinced that a beautiful, butterfly prince dropped it off for me. I never took it off.