AUTHOR'S NOTE
I really enjoyed writing this one. I know some of us enjoy reading with music and I thought I'd share the song with which it was created. Most of you might recognize it as belonging to Hillsong United and it is. I am sharing just the instrumental though because not everyone is religious. Click HERE and press the download mp3 button. Enjoy!
THE STORY...
The snow crunches under the sole of my black ankle boots as I make my way towards the city square. Covered from head to toe in winter clothing, my hands in my pockets and my eyes on the road, I steadily make my way through the swarm of people. My mind reverts back to the days when everyone believed in magical creatures and Santa too. Now, even kids can't believe it because they've been told it's a lie.
New York. Beautiful city with beautiful people. How thou hast fallen! I pause my movement, my ears listening around me. Laughter, cheer and a lot of joy. But there's also pain, anger and sorrow.
I close my eyes and breathe in with my nose, the smell of pine trees and chilly breeze reminds me of home. A dull ache in my chest makes me open my eyes again and continue moving.
A child is pulling his mother towards the toy store, the lack of light in her eyes tell me he won't be getting any gifts. The pounding drums of the boy's heart tells me he knows there won't be any gift this Christmas, but he's happy to fake it.
Yes. Kids no longer live without worry. They see the pain of their parents and choose to live in the moment. They keep moving with hopes for a better tomorrow. I keep walking. The temperature has dropped some more and so has the night darkened.
As my feet move, so do my ears, my nose, my skin, the whole of nature calling out to me, reminding me who I am. Not like I can forget, even if man's unbelief has wiped out many of my kind and rendered us useless, nature is what keeps us going.
From miles away, I hear the waterfalls, the silent whisp of tree leaves, the gentle call of humming birds and the ever overwhelming presence of harmony.
I get to the famous square of New York City, the huge tree is lavished with decorations and lights. A beautiful sight to behold. Everyone is living in the moment, parents, children, lovers and me.
The joy is contagious and I close ny eyes once more to blend with Nature. The very source of my existence.
"What shampoo do you use?" A voice interrupts me. I slowly open my eyes and turn to look at the source. A teenager, about 17 or 18 with dark straight hair. The gasp she emits doesn't escape my notice. My eyes have always been a source of wonder to people all around me. Emerald Green that glimmers within the light.
"You have beautiful eyes." She says in a daze. This is the effect I have on Humans. They forget the bad within them and embrace the good.
"Thank you". I reply politely.
"What shampoo do you use?" She repeats.
My hand brushes through my soft golden locks. I don't use shampoo but it wouldn't be believable considering that it's Christmas and Christmas in my hometown meant glitter and love. So yes, my hair would be shimmering right now especially within the boundaries of such a beautiful Christmas tree.
"Well, my grandma makes them for me. She believes more in herbs than anything else."
The girl looks at me with new found interest.
"Can I get one too? Your hair looks amazing and I wouldn't bother buying my really expensive bottle of Olay's if I can get shrubs to do my hair like yours." She moves closer and reaches out to touch me but stops.
"Can I touch it?" She looks at me with really hopeful eyes.
"Sure." I smile. And she does. Her eyeballs are very much the size of saucers right now.
"Sooo soft." She mewls. She goes ahead to rub it on her face and I nearly laugh at her enthusiasm.
After a minute of singing praises, she holds my hand.
"You have to meet my elder sister. She'd be really interested in your hair too. And I bet she'd die of shock. Can you come with me?"
I shrug and let her lead the way.
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"OH MY GOD! I FINALLY KNOW WHAT CLOUDS FEEL LIKE!"
Yes. The sisters are both drama queens and I've been surrounded by women, old, young, great, small and they are all taken with my hair.
"So pwetty." Amy, a four year old echoes.
"She is." The women all reply as their hands run amok through my hair.
"Wanna hear a short story?" I ask them and they immediately get comfortable all around me in the convenience store. Even the shop attendants are here too while the cashiers are torn between handling their jobs and being with me. It's my effect. The Christmas effect.
Then I tell them a story of a thousand years ago. When men believed in mythical creatures and when Santa truly existed. I told them of the joy and the pleasures of true Christmas. With rapt attention, they soaked in my words.
Then I told them of our destruction which began from man's unbelief. Everyone of my kind have disappeared to one part or the other of the world. This I didn't tell them but made it appear fictional. Hoping to pass across a message that wishes do come true if they'd believe.
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It's really late when the crowd of enamored individuals finally let me go. The street is now a little empty. I keep walking to nowhere in particular, for nature is my home. Then I smell it. The lingering scent of pixie dust. The scent of magic. My heart beats wildly as I follow it, tracing it. Could it be...? I look around frantically, searching. The scent leads back to the city square. Hope had never been this real. It is...
And I see! My eyes hone in on the silhouette of a man backing me. His head tilted back a little as though he were basking in the glory of the lights. His shimmering blond tells me he is. The he tenses. I can hear his heartbeat as it spikes. No doubt that he has smelled me too.
Then he turns and emerald greens land on me. Surprise, joy and hope all in harmony with one another. Even though he tries to hide it with headphones, I could still make out the stretch of his pointy ears. Thank you Santa!