Fandom High

The Letter

Ace loved her Uncle's house. The old cabin by the beach was her absolute favorite place in the world. Her Uncle Greg and Aunt Carol were her favorite family members, her big cousin Renee was like a sister to
her, and she enjoyed every second of every visit.
But the particular visit, Ace couldn't get her mind off her stunt. She had been so proud of herself; she'd created wings and flown. That really was an achievement. Especially at such an early age. But her dad just had to go and be a buzz kill. Of course, he was just watching out for her safety. He only wanted his little girl to be safe, and in the process he can off a bit angry in the process. But that was understandable. After all, his daughter did jump off a building.
Ace sat at the dinner table on the night she'd arrived at Uncle Greg's. The sun had set an about hour ago, maybe less. Fireflies could be seen flicking on and off outside in the dark under the stars.
Ace stared down at her food, picking at it distractedly. Renee was finishing up telling her parents about a story she was writing. That was her great talent; she was an excellent writer. She would sit down at a desk in her room an write for hours, and she'd never get bored. She hoped she could one day grow up and be an author for a living. And her parents totally supported it.
Ace couldn't help but envy her just a bit. Why couldn't she just have a normal hobby? Why couldn't she like books or nail polish or chick flicks or tv shows like everyone else? Why was she so different.
Aunt Carol noticed Ace as Renee finished describing her story and looked at her in concern. She reached out and lightly touched her forearm. "Honey? You okay?"
"Hmm...? Oh!" Ace started in distraction. "Yeah, yeah, fine..."
"Are you sure, sweetie? Do you need anything? Feeling alright?" Aunt Carol asked.
Ace gave her a fake smile. "No, Aunt Carol, I'm fine. Thank you though." She hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I'm uh... I think I'm gonna just go to bed..." She stood up and walked out of the dining room without another word.
As she headed up the stairs to she and Renee's room with her head down, Uncle Greg and Aunt Carol exchanged glances. 'Talk to her,' Aunt Carol mouthed. Uncle Greg nodded and stood up, then he followed after his niece, leaving his wife and daughter at the table to continue eating.
•••
Ace laid on the roof of the cabin, staring up at the stars in silence. No matter what she did, ate simply couldn't stop thinking about her just. Maybe it had been stupid... Maybe she never should have done it. All in all, she loved being able to stay at her Uncle's for the next few months. But with finals coming up fast, she wouldn't be home in time to do them. Although she wasn't great at academics, she knew her grades were important.
Renee was still going to school; there was no point in Ace going to her school with her cousin when there were only two weeks left of school.
Ace sighed and closed her eyes, sitting in the starlight. She could hear crickets chirping, the nighttime breeze whistling quietly through the leaves on the trees. She took a deep breath as the breeze blew gently through her black hair in its ponytail; then she heard an owl hoot.
She opened her eyes. The owl hooted again. She watched longingly as the bird, silhouetted in the night, flew off into the woods. Ace watched it go and imagined what it must be like to fly...
The wind in her face, the world far below her, the speed of gliding through the air... Oh, it must be wonderful.
Ace laughed at herself inwardly. 'Look at me,' She thought. 'I'm jealous of a bird.'
"Hey, kiddo, you okay?"
Ace glanced behind her and smiled grimly. "Yeah, Uncle Greg, I'm fine. I'm just..." She sighed and curled her knees in close to her, resting her chin in between them.
Uncle Greg sat down beside her. "Is it your dad?" He asked. Ace nodded without looking up or responding. She just stared out in the direction in which the owl had flown. "He's just trying to protect you. I know it may seem like he's hard-headed and narrow-minded and all that, but he's also your dad and he has to take care of you."
"I know..." Ace replied quietly. "It's just..." She sighed in frustration and looked up at her Uncle. "I made a major achievement and he just said, 'Why couldn't I have a normal daughter?'"
"Well you did also jump off a building, risk your life, and get arrested all in a course of what, five minutes? But you know." He grinned mischievously. "Minor difficulties."
Ace smiled a bit. "Oh shut up..." She said, playfully punching Uncle Greg's arm.
He smiled back and hesitated for a moment. Finally, he spoke again. "Well, look... I've got something that'll cheer you up."
Ace looked up suspiciously. "What?" She asked.
Uncle Greg smiled. "I'll show you." He stood up and climbed back into the house through the open window, followed by a curious Ace.