The innocence of a young mind never goes away (Peter Pan fan fiction)

The innocence of a young mind never goes away (A Peter Pan fan fiction)

“Wendy?”  

Slowly I rubbed my eyes to dismiss the morning earliness. “Wendy?” Hearing the voice again I turned to look over by the large nursery window. My heart soared as I glared at the small boy situated across the room. “Peter!” I paused and blinked several times to detect whether I was seeing things. “Peter, your back!”

Without hesitating I threw myself across the room and danced into the arms of my first love. “Peter! I’ve missed you so much!” Although embraced in a hug I could feel his soft eyes glare at me kindly.

 “Peter, why didn’t you come sooner?” I felt the intruding question escape my mouth without control.

Escaping his grasp my features formed a strong frown as I saw his expression darken. “I’m sorry Wendy, you can’t come back.” I gasped as I allowed myself to experience the meaning of his words.

“What?” My tone lowered as small tears pricked my eyes.

“You can’t come back Wendy, you’re too old now.” His head shook slowly as his words circled around me. “No!” I answered “I can, I can fly!” I tried to sound positive but his face looked blank and emotionless.

“I’m sorry Wendy, you left me. You left me to grow old...now you cannot come back.” I felt my hands shake lightly as they wiped away a single tear. “I can!” I was shouting now, expressing my anger through tone. “I can come back!” Once again Peter’s head shook sluggishly.

The drawn out silence that followed struck up pure pain as I crumbled to his feet. “Please Peter! Please!”

                                                                             ****

“Wendy?” I gasped as my mother gently tapped my shoulder awakening me. “Mother?”  Slowly I opened my eyes to reveal my mother wearing her new cream, silk gown.

“Yes dear?” I sighed as I glanced over to my two brothers John and Michael, both of which were fully dressed and were waiting for breakfast.  Hastily I looked over to my mother as she stared at me worriedly. Realising I was babbling I replied “Oh, nothing.”

With that my mother kissed me kindly on the head before retracing her steps out of the room, followed by my brothers. 

I sighed shakily as I glanced over at the tall window shielding us from the outside. It was a dream...It was always a dream...Peter wasn’t coming back, he couldn’t and he wouldn’t.

I stood up swiftly and made my way over to my wardrobe to grab my outfit for the day. It didn’t matter how hard I tried to return to reality I just never could. I missed him... I missed the mermaids and the pixie dust... I missed the echoing chill of the pirate’s calls and the innocent minds of the lost boys. I missed everything.

After pulling on my grey pinafore I grabbed my shoes and headed downstairs to the welcoming smell of homemade bread.

I smiled as I shuffled into the kitchen followed by an eager eyed Nana before taking a seat next to John. 

My mind raced with unanswered questions. Would Peter come back? It seemed so unfair that everyone else could forget about him so easily while I was haunted by the mere thought of him...

“Where’s Father today Mother?” I tried to focus as mother returned Michael’s question.

“Oh, he’s out for a walk, he wondered whether you wanted to join him but all of you were asleep so I thought it was best not to wake you.” I sighed thankfully. I didn’t want to retreat into the crowds of society trying to act proper when my mind was caught on childish memories...

                                                                       ****

After breakfast I trailed out of the kitchen to return to my room however just before I was about to exit Mother tapped my shoulder quietly. “Wendy?” I stared at mother’s concerned expression.

“Yes mother?”  Slowly my mother fished something out of her pocket and placed it in my left palm. “I found this yesterday, by the window...in the nursery.” I frowned before opening the small piece of parchment I clasped. I gasped at the small handwriting scrawled across the centre. It read “I’ll never forget you, Wendy x”