Before
“One night, a dark king came to me and offered his hand, his heart, and his kingdom.”
I giggled, squirming closer to Rawya under a slightly tattered blanket. Huddled in front of the hearth, flames flickering wildly as if dancing with abandon, firelight illuminating our features. I couldn’t imagine a better place to be.
“No, this one is scary!” I said. Rawya raised one eyebrow at me.
“Don’t tell me you’re scared of a story, little mouse. What happened to the fearless warrior from last night, wrestling monsters under the bed? Where did she go?”
All of a sudden, Rawya pounced on me, tickling mercilessly. I shrieked with gleeful laughter while desperately kicking in a futile attempt to get away. As soon as she stops, I stand up and puff out my chest.
“I’m not afraid of anything.” I declare.
My moment of grandeur was somewhat ruined when the rumble of thunder outside caused me to jump with alarm and nestle under the blanket. Dad popped his head around the doorway, checking that we were alright.
“Mosley, are you okay in here?”
I nod, my fear already forgotten under the coziness of the blanket. Eyes twinkling with warmth, my dad surveyed the hapy scene.
“And what are you two doing in here?”
“Rawya’s telling me a story!” I told him delightedly, my voice muffled from beneath the blanket.
“My little storyteller,” Dad said with a fond smile. “Well, I’d better leave you to it!”
Once again, it was just Rawya and I in the cozy, firelit room. I snuggled up to her, feeling tired all at once.
“So, little mouse, what story should I tell you?” I suspected Rawya already knew what I would say, but she asked anyway.
“Tell me the story about how the sun loved the moon so much, he died every night to let her breathe,” I murmured. This one was my favorite.
As I drifted into unconsciousness, heat from the fire still warming me, I heard her begin, a familiar lilt in her voice.
“There once was a moon, as beautiful as can be, only the stars could fathom, but the sun could not see…”