Fairy Crosses - ONC 2024

'Fairy Crosses' are believed to have formed where fairies danced in little valleys between the mountains. On certain nights of the year, settlers believed they could find the fairies, watch their dance, and collect their tears...

Charlotte lost her husband two years ago. She moved from Atlanta to Helen, a small, sleepy town in northern Georgia to escape her pain. Struggling with grief, Charlotte often talks to her husband as if he is still there.

One day, Charlotte returns home to find fairy crosses in her yard. This becomes such a regular occurrence for her that she decides to take them to a local museum. There, the curator explains to Charlotte what they are and the scientific phenomenon that causes them, but also the legend.

Charlotte later finds a trail of fairy crosses on a path between trail trees. It leads her down a valley where a miracle happens one night.

Charlotte believes the miracle that she sees, but is it real?

Based on prompt 36. "Fairy tales are real," and there couldn't be anything worse.

This is a collaboration of @RowanCarver and CBMokedi. Small differences will occur throughout the story between this version and one on Rowan's account due to our independent editing.

Cover image by Cheese. Title design by CBMokedi