Twilight
by Atchika
She had told him there had been a fountain in the forest once, a place were the fairies danced over shimmering water but she had also told him that it no longer existed. He had awoken early every day for weeks and went to there in the hopes of catching one. She had told him that they could heal any illness, any hurt. It didn’t matter that not one had been seen for well over a hundred years, he was determined to find one. He sat still atop a large rock and looked around, thoughts of happier times crept in, like when she had brought them here for picnics. Most of the islanders were afraid to come here, the trees always kept it dark and the fireflies were always out. She was never afraid here, the others, she said, thought it too eerie but that was because there were so many fireflies it made it look scarier than it really was. He could remember following them, chasing them, catching them in bottles. Her smile whenever he showed her his prize.
The sun was going down and it was going to be dark to see the path soon, he should go or she would worry. He didn’t want her to worry. He still hadn't found his fairy though. He hopped off the rock and headed back toward his home. Only one lamp was lit and he kept his eye on it as he crossed the bridge. He looked at the watchtower, his sister was still there looking out over the water. He walked down the dock to the ladder, and began the long climb. "Hoy short round," he said quietly, "lets get home." She looked at him and he could tell she had been crying. It was getting closer now they could both feel it. He climbed the rest of the way up, she ran to him but she wasn’t crying anymore. He gave her an extra long hug and they made their way down the ladder.
Looking at his front porch he remembered how it began. Things started to slow down and at first she would sit on the porch for hours looking out at the sea. The gulls would sometimes come to keep her company. They would hop about with his sister chasing after, she'd laugh when they squawked at her. They would sit and watch with her all day and sometimes she would play with them. Now, she could no longer leave her bed and she fretted at no longer being able to take care of them as she should. That's when Grandma came to live with them. Whenever they asked when Dad would be back, she would always say "Soon, soon." Coming in that day she greeted them with that smile. Grandma collected them and fed them dinner, nobody ate much though and they got ready for bed. He went to her and laid his head in her lap while his sister climbed up near her feet. She gently stroked his hair and he fell asleep.
He awoke in his bed the next morning to the sounds of gentle crying. Looking over he saw his Father holding her. She looked like she was sleeping, but he knew better. He was too late, he had not found his fairy in time.
