The train was moving. The girl could not tell if it was on the ground or flying. She could not tell if it was moving fast or slowly. She assumed place and time would be meaningless to her from now on.
The view from the window was dreamy, truly amazing, but it didn’t fascinate the girl at all, since she had soon figured she was seeing whatever she wanted to see. It made her feel sick.
It wasn’t just the view, though. Her own inability to feel happiness or even excitement was just as ugly. And not the least, her own form. The shape of her face and her body she could see on the window glass.
She wanted to think the air inside the train was cold, while she already knew it was coming from inside.
When the train stopped and the doors opened, the girl did feel brief joy about whom she knew she was going to meet next. After she had stepped out of the train her eyes met a man’s eyes on a station-like view.
For a moment the girl could see the joy in the man’s eyes as well. Sadly, a very different kind. And after that moment all there seemed to be was confusion. The girl smiled sadly.
– What is this… Why are you.., the man stammered.
The girl shrugged her shoulders like she didn’t care. Right now she had to be able to smile about it, no matter what.
– You look ten years younger than when we first met!
– I know, the girl smiled. She tried hard to keep smiling. Otherwise, it would all end here.
– But what for?
The man squeezed his brows in confusion.
– It… It doesn’t make any sense!
– I haven’t got the slightest idea myself, the girl said with a sigh.
The man didn’t seem to know what to say.
– But maybe we can figure it out together, the girl said. The man still seemed worried for a moment, but then he finally smiled back.
– Of course, dear.
He took her hand to pull her forward.
– You’ve got yourself a new name, by the way, he said while walking away from the train.
– Really?
– Everyone here does, the man told her. – From now on, you’ll be The Bird. And you’re supposed to forget whatever anyone has called you before.
– Bird…?
– I think it really suits you, the man smiled.
It should. It really should, the girl thought. How could she wish for anything else?
– Yes, of course it suits me. What should I call you then?
The man grinned.
– I’m The Lily.
– Of course, the girl smiled. – My favourite kind of flower.
Now the man turned towards the girl and took both of her hands in his. He looked down. Her fingers were empty.
– Well, The Lily sighed. – You were always full of surprises, Birdy.
– But my current form is a total mystery to me too! I hoped that somebody here could explain it.
The Lily looked at her carefully for a moment.
– It’s probably nothing to worry about, he smiled then. – I was just a little surprised, that’s all. The age people appear here depends on countless things. It’s just that they tend to be…
He stopped, but he saw from The Bird’s eyes that he wouldn’t get away with it.
– People tend to be around the same age with their spouse.
The Bird nodded.
– I thought so.
– But it’s not like it’s a given, I don’t think…
– I don’t even have my ring, The Bird said, raising her left hand. The Lily looked worried again, but then he smiled.
– You didn’t have it when you were the age you appear now, so of course not. Don’t worry, I’ll just give you a new one.
The Bird tried to smile the happiest she could while they walked hand in hand.
– Can you show me our home now? I’m kind of tired, she said.
During the next days, The Bird heard many different names for her new place of residence from many different people. There was no official one, but some were quite popular, such as Neverland, Avalon, Eden, Wonderland, Fantasia or even Utopia. The Bird found all of them sort of superficial. She would always refer to it with very roundabout words like ”this place”.
The Lily tried hard to make The Bird feel at home. Sure, the mansion they lived in was very homely, very much like the one they had lived in before. The Bird was always smiling around The Lily, but there were several times The Lily caught her gazing into the empty air with a distant look in her eyes. It really made The Lily feel like she was a bird he felt an urge to capture. But what could a single flower do?
Even the day The Lily gave The Bird her new ring wasn’t as happy as he had wished for. Three times he tried to put the ring on The Bird’s finger but every time it would slip from his fingers and fly away without even touching her hand.
I’m sorry, she wanted to say. She had felt those words coming in the train station too, but she had held them back, and so she did now. If she hadn’t, it would be over.
The Lily couldn’t help looking shocked for a moment, but soon enough he regained his easy smile again.
– It must be that you can’t wear any other rings here apart from the one I gave you first. Maybe it is somewhere here for us to find?
– Yes, she nodded. – Let’s give it a try.
She knew there was something wrong with that but what else could she say?
There was one place The Bird often went to. She couldn’t say she liked it, but there was a park she walked around while The Lily had things to do. In the park there was a lake and above the lake there was a beautiful bridge. Many times The Bird stood on the bridge looking at the water lilies in the lake. She couldn’t see the bottom of the lake, and it made her feel blue, but at the same time she also got a kind of inner peace out of it.
It was a day like that when The Bird saw a lady walking to the bridge. She was wearing a light yellow dress full of lace, and a similar hat was hiding half of her face under a shadow.
– Hello, she said. – You must be The Bird.
The lady had a very friendly face and a gentle aura around her.
– That’s what they call me, The Bird smiled. – Who are you?
– I’m The Pearl, the lady smiled back. To The Bird, she seemed oddly interested in her.
– I have to say, she continued. – I think you look exactly like you’re supposed to look.
The Bird looked surprised.
– How would you know…?
– Who would know better than a childhood friend? The Pearl laughed. – You seriously couldn’t have forgotten about me already…
Then it hit The Bird.
– Oh my!… I’m so sorry, I didn’t recognize you at first! she gasped and almost jumped to hug her friend. – You look so much…
– Older? The Pearl laughed.
– I was going to say more mature.
Both women smiled happily at each other. They hadn’t seen each other for a long time.
– I also never thought you would have such a thing for lace!
The Pearl laughed again.
– I figured it suits me much better than I thought.
– Hmm, I assume this realization had a man involved.
– That… might be, The Pearl admitted.
– Can I meet him? The Bird asked eagerly.
– You have seen him, The Pearl whispered.
– I have? The Bird sounded surprised. – Here…?
– No, he’s not here.
The Pearl smiled sadly.
– But… also, you should remember that you’re supposed to forget whatever my name was before and lower your voice a bit… since nobody here is supposed to know that we know each other.
The Bird sighed.
– I so do not get these rules.
– No, that’s no it, The Pearl said. – I think you get them better than most people here, since you’re probably having the hardest time to… protect the picture.
– Please… could we just… not talk about that, The Bird asked.
– Of course, The Pearl said. – But I just want you to know I really meant it when I said I think you look exactly right.
– You really seem to know more about me than I know about you right now, The Bird sighed again.
– Well, The Bird said. – You really don’t have to put much effort in getting information here.
The Bird was surprised.
– Really?
– Yes, I can show you right away.
– Show me what?
– Our library!
The Pearl smiled when she took The Bird’s hand to show her the way.
After a while they were standing in front of a massive and decorative library building. The inside of it was full of high bookshelves, but not that many people.
– Here it is! Probably every official and unofficial document ever written that has something to do with people living here.
– For everyone to see? The Bird asked.
– Pretty much, The Pearl said. – Although… I think now it’s pretty much the same in the world we left… but we’re not supposed to talk about it.
– Even though everything can be read here? The Bird wondered.
– Yes, that’s it. You do understand it, don’t you? All these books have created the picture we’re living in. And if people don’t talk about it, it will stay literally the same.
– I know… but I would at least try to clear things out for myself. To see if there was something I… something I… misunderstood… back then.
– Would you? The Pearl asked and suddenly handed an old magazine towards The Bird. She looked startled and even backed away a couple of steps. She instantly recognized the weird house on the hill.
– See? The Pearl said, smiling sadly. – People tend to choose to live in their own bubble.
– It’s not that, The Bird shook her head.
– Then what would it be?
– There’s no bubble around me! I’m clear with everything! The Bird cried out.
– Then how do you explain your form?
The Bird couldn’t answer that. She just shook her head, waiting for the moment she’d burst into tears. She swallowed them somehow.
– The Lily didn’t mention this place, not once, she said.
– Oh really? I wonder why, The Pearl said, the sarcasm glimmering in her eyes.
– And I’ve been here… I don’t know for how long… but long enough…
– The new books are how we keep count, The Pearl said. – You’ve been here for months already.
– Why didn’t you come and find me sooner? The Bird wondered.
– You were always with your Lily, The Pearl said. – He’s not supposed to know that I know you.
– Right.
– But… the fact is that by talking about this we are already breaking the picture. Maybe no one can see it but still. As well as this library hides us right now, those books hide many other things that wouldn’t fit in the picture. It’s all between the lines.
– And people here… won’t read enough into it?
– That’s about it.
– But you have, The Bird said.
– Yes, I have.
– You could be reading too much into it.
– Well, am I?
– How should I know!
The Bird flustered and turned towards the library’s doors. The Pearl followed her outside and said:
– You do know. But I see you’re being as stubborn as ever, so maybe you should begin your research with me instead. There’s not that much about me anyway, but I assume you’re curious.
– Who says I’m going back in there? The Bird said and snorted.
The Pearl smiled.
– Just give it some time.
The Bird didn’t need much time, anyway. Just like The Pearl had predicted, she soon began to spend a lot of time in the library, first reading about The Pearl, but eventually anything that seemed interesting. Still there were certain areas she never went to. Every time she got too close, something stopped her.
One day, when The Bird thought the library was empty, and she was reading in a small corner, she suddenly heard really light, fast steps nearby. In a moment someone really tiny appeared behind the corner. It was a little girl, her appearance around a six-year-old’s. For a moment The Bird’s eyes were captured by the little girl’s long, shiny, raven black hair, her lively, green eyes and her surprisingly quick movements that created a very cheerful air around her.
The little girl tried to reach out for a book, but it was too high, so The Bird stood up from her corner and helped her.
– Thank you, Miss, the girl said with a very clear voice. The Bird didn’t correct her.
– So, you know how to read? The Bird smiled.
– Yes, the girl said. – My brother taught me.
– Oh, that’s nice. What’s your name, dear?
For some reason The Bird found this little girl very lovable.
– Violet, the girl replied bluntly.
The Bird blinked her eyes a few times. Then she lowered her voice and said:
– Has anyone told you… not to tell your real name to anybody? Or that you should even forget about it?
Suddenly the girl looked quite sulky.
– I know, she sniffed. – But I was Violet first, and it sounds so much prettier…
– Really? The Bird tried not to laugh. – How do they call you here, then?
The girl pushed out her lip.
– The Scorpio.
– Wow. Doesn’t that sound exciting? The Bird said.
– It sounds stupid, The Scorpio claimed. – It’s an animal.
– Well, I’m one too. I’m The Bird.
The Bird smiled and The Scorpio tilted her head to her right, looking pensive.
– The Bird is nice, she said then. – Birds are pretty and they can sing. I bet you can sing too. And you’re pretty.
– Or maybe I was named after a crow, The Bird said. – They’re birds too but have you heard their ”singing”?
That made The Scorpio laugh, but she shook her head.
– No, I don’t believe you were.
– Look, maybe you weren’t named after the animal scorpion either, The Bird said then.
– What do you mean?
– Scorpio is a zodiac sign. And you know what? Those born under Scorpio are the most powerful people.
– Really? The Scorpio looked suspicious.
– Yes, really, The Bird smiled. The Scorpio seemed to need a minute to think about it, but finally she said:
– Maybe that’s me then, she said somehow proudly. – I can lift heavy things.
– I’m sure you can.
Then The Scorpio looked around like she was making sure no one could hear her and said:
– I told you my real name. Can you tell me yours?
She looked very curious and The Bird smiled sadly at her.
– I’m sorry dear, I wish I could.
The Scorpio looked disappointed.
– Have you forgotten it already?
– I think so, The Bird whispered. Her voice shivered. Her thoughts were getting too close…
– I’m sure you could recognize yourself in some of these books! The Scorpio said eagerly.
– No, I don’t think so… I don’t know how to, The Bird muttered. The Scorpio looked sad.
– Listen, The Bird said. – We are supposed to forget. It’s how it should be.
– Why? The Scorpio asked. She was so sincere The Bird felt like she was about to cry again. She bit her lip.
– To protect the picture, she whispered.
– Why? The Scorpio asked again. The Bird didn’t know what to say.
– If the picture is false, why should it be protected?
– Who says the picture is false…
– How could it be true? The Scorpio pressed. – I’m not in it! I’m not in it but I’m here! Where did I come from, then? If the picture is true, how do you explain me?!
The Bird looked startled.
– You are… not in it?
– I’m between the lines!
Some kind of huge wave of hope crashed through The Bird, when she looked at this tiny girl, who looked so young, yet she sounded a hundred years old.
– I know that’s why I’m not supposed to say my real name. It’s all to protect the picture. The picture I don’t fit!
The Bird felt awfully sad.
– I’m so sorry…, she whispered.
– Don’t be sorry, if you only want to deny me…
– I don’t! The Bird said. – I wouldn’t!
– Really?
The Scorpio looked surprised.
– So you admit that the picture is false.
The Bird took a deep breath to collect herself.
– I know it is. Parts of it are. But not necessarily everything, The Bird said. – And that’s why… you might easily be mistaken about what’s between the lines. They might not be… as deep as… your feelings.
The Bird looked down and sat on the floor in silence.
– I see, The Scorpio said then. Her voice was much lighter than before.
– I’ve seen that to most people the picture is about people who look happy in it, she said. – People who seem to fit into their places. People who never break their own walls. Lines without the space between them.
The Bird looked at The Scorpio in confusion.
– You really do sound like a hundred years old, she said.
– I’m close to it, after all, The Scorpio said. The Bird had to wonder how long it had taken her to get to this place.
– Keep talking, dear, she whispered.
– But I see you are past that, The Scorpio continued. – Your only problem is that you are a coward. You are afraid that if you did look between the lines, and didn’t find what you wanted to, you would end up more sad and hurt than you are now.
The Scorpio’s words were really blunt, and they did hurt The Bird but the same time she really wanted to hear them. It was like music to her ears, full of hidden hope.
– You’re right, The Bird said. – And you certainly explained it better than I could.
The Scorpio raised her eyebrow.
– But you could hardly put it any simpler than that, she said.
The Bird laughed.
– Exactly.
The Bird had already wondered why The Lily hadn’t said anything about her going to the library so often, so she wasn’t surprised when he finally brought that up. They were sitting in their living room and the sun was shining brightly through the window.
– I’ve never seen anyone spending that much time around those books, The Lily told The Bird.
The Bird had been staring through the window in silence for quite a while now.
– Oh well, she said and smiled at The Lily. – You know me. I’m always in a need of a new story. Libraries and books… they’re like magic!
No matter how much The Bird tried to smile, The Lily somehow knew, that by those words she could probably have referred to any library in the world they knew but this particular one.
– I do know you, The Lily said. – Which is why I’m wondering why you don’t seem to be… as much at home in this house, as I would hope.
– Oh no, that’s not it! It’s just that I love the books…
– I thought you loved music too, The Lily said. – And we’ve got a guitar and a piano here, but you’ve barely touched them.
The Bird shrugged.
– I’ve just been in a reading mode for a while.
The more The Bird smiled, the more The Lily looked worried. After a while of complete silence he stood up and went to sit on the same sofa as The Bird.
– You know that I’d do anything to make you happy here, don’t you? he said.
– I am happy, The Bird assured, but she didn’t even look at The Lily.
– No, you’re not, I know you, dear Birdy, The Lily claimed and somehow those words carried The Bird over the edge.
– Oh, if you do know me so well, and want to make me so happy, could you stop calling me Birdy, for the start? she snapped.
The Lily looked shaken.
– But what should I call you then?
The Bird quickly came back to her senses.
– No, I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. Birdy is fine. There’s nothing else…
The Lily didn’t look like anything was fine at all. He looked more and more worried, and his hand reached out for The Bird’s face. He leaned forward and tried to kiss her, but something stopped him.
There was something between The Bird and The Lily.
Perhaps just one brief moment in time.
Or maybe three.
One, Two, Three.
Tic, Tac, Boom.
Inevitable moments that got stuck in time.
Helplessly out of the picture.
Now The Bird couldn’t avoid it any more. Tears began to flow from her eyes and her hand flew to cover her mouth as if she could cover her shock.
The Lily couldn’t touch her at all any more. The invisible wall kept them apart. The Lily gave up quickly, and sat back like he had known this was coming.
The Bird stood up. She couldn’t stop her tears from running down her face.
– I’m sorry! she cried. – I’m so sorry! I know you waited here for me for so long, and I guess that’s why I came here in the first place, but I can’t stay here! I just can’t!
– No! Please, stay! I’ll do anything… anything, The Lily tried. – And where would you even go? There’s no way back there!
– No… there has to be… there is a way, The Bird gasped. – There is a reason why I look like this. Only that way… everything makes sense…
– That’s not true! It’s like you’re putting yourself under some kind of curse! The Lily claimed. – There’s nothing for you outside this place!
The Bird gave The Lily a sad but certain look.
– I won’t know until I try to find out, she said. – The curse would be staying here! That’s the only certain way to make me miserable. See, there’s no way I can just live this blissfully peaceful life here pretending to be all happy when I’m not! That’s not me! I can’t just turn my back when there’s something else calling out for me.
The Lily had lost his words. He knew he couldn’t fight The Bird’s will.
– I can’t lie to my own heart, The Bird said, and she smiled, although she was still crying.
The Lily knew it would be the end of the conversation.
– I’m sorry! The Bird cried, and then, she suddenly ran to the door and out of the house. Even though she couldn’t stop crying, there was still some kind of delicate excitement in the way she ran into the evening that was just getting darker. When she spotted the first evening star she couldn’t help but smile at it.
The Bird had no idea where she was running to, or who she would go to for help. When she was running through the usual park, and the bridge, she almost run into someone. It was a young man who looked somehow familiar to her, but The Bird couldn’t see his face clearly in the dark. The Bird noticed the man was laughing a little.
– A lucky, little bird in the dark, singing love songs, the man muttered. – A bird, huh? Should it really be that, I wonder…
– Was I singing? The Bird said out loud. – I didn’t notice…
– Like a fairytale princess, the man laughed. – Those who believe in love at first sight! he grinned.
– Isn’t it funny though, he continued. – How restless they are.
The Bird wasn’t quite following.
– I’m not sure what you mean…
The man laughed brightly.
– All those energetic and open airheads have their princes and princesses, but the readers and the writers are way too busy or restless to wait for the Cancers to wake up and hop on. A crab, huh… that’s fitting.
For some reason this man found his own words very funny.
– Cancers…?
– Wasn’t it you, talking about the zodiac the other day? the man said, and raised his eyebrows.
The Bird didn’t get a word about what the strange man was saying, and she thought that the man either knew it, and was teasing her, or he was completely crazy.
– Now, don’t look like that, dear, he grinned. – Our guy, in fact, didn’t have any more patience either, which is why you are now in a desperate need to meet this great boss’ representative.
– Who? The Bird asked eagerly.
– That would be me, the man said with a smile. – At least for you and for tonight. And I am sorry if I’m confusing you. I may have a habit of teasing people, but I am not The Evil Queen.
– Who are you, then? The Bird asked.
– Well, it seems the situation has made me The Fairy Godmother, the man laughed. There seemed to be some irony in it that The Bird didn’t understand.
– But that’s how it is, the man sighed. – If you are going to give us a lead and be The Princess of this… sequel… the roles are obviously going to change.
The Bird stared at the man like she was now seeing him the first time. She was beginning to understand what he was saying.
– So… what I’m thinking of… is possible?
– Didn’t you say just a while ago that it had to be? That there was no other way?
The man smiled. The Bird was unsure but she smiled back.
– Then… what should I do?
– You’re The Princess. I’m The Fairy Godmother. Would you like to make a wish?
The Bird took a deep breath.
– I see, she said.
– Do you?
– Let’s say… you can bring me back to the palace I lost my glass slipper in, The Bird said, grinning. – But… there’s always the time limit. And if I fail, that’s it. I have lost my chance.
The man laughed gently.
– You learn quick, dear.
– And the time I’ll have there… It will cost me something, right?
– You’ve read your books, the man said. – What would you be willing to pay? Your lovely voice? Your life if you fail?
– Anything, The Bird answered. Her eyes were strong and serious.
The man stopped laughing. He looked at the girl and for the first time he now revealed that he really had an honestly friendly look in his eyes.
– No, dear, he said then. – If you fail, you will come back here, and you will continue your life like it has been here until today. This is a timeless space. The time you’re going to use back there was yours to begin with. It was given to you, but never used.
– So… I will… to put it simply, make my past my future, The Bird said. She thought of her younger form and smiled for it. Of course she knew it would make sense.
– Then, how will I go there? I don’t think there’s a train back.
– Hmm… What do you think there could be then?
– Why can’t you tell me anything straightforwardly? The Bird sighed.
The man laughed again.
– That wouldn’t be fun, would it?
The Bird raised her eyebrows.
– There’s not really that much to tell, the man said then. – Since you seem to be the key to everything there is to it.
– Me? Please don’t start some kind of irritating ”the answers are inside of you” -game with me!
– But they are, the man smiled. – It’s not the truth’s fault that it becomes a cliché to people when they use it wrong. If you can’t grab the meaning of it, it’s you yourself you should blame.
The Bird rolled her eyes and sighed.
– Look, are you going to help me or give me a philosophy lesson?
– I think you might actually need one, the man said and grinned. – But I’m not here to tease you.
– Oh, really, The Bird muttered.
– Just think, dear, think. Who and what are you? That’s all you really need. Just look in the mirror.
The Bird actually tried to figure out the true meaning of those words.
– How am I really… supposed to know something like that? The Bird asked. Suddenly, she felt really tired.
– Those things are pretty basic human needs, the man said.
– That doesn’t mean we know the answers, The Bird said.
– True enough.
The Bird leaned her elbows on the bridge’s railing. She didn’t feel like she was getting anywhere.
– You know, dear, the man said then. – You might want to consider the fact that this place is ideal for discovering the answers.
– Really? The Bird sneered. – Although everyone here lives basically in a bubble!
– You might also want to think about that again.
– And what about it? The Bird sighed.
– These bubbles you mentioned, were all brought here by those people when they came from there.
The Bird looked at the man in silence. Now she was listening carefully.
– Those people are simply too afraid to use the opportunities this place has for them, he continued.
– Not all of them, The Bird thought out loud. – The Pearl and… The Scorpio.
– Just think about it, dear, the man said. – If it’s too difficult to start with yourself, start with me. If you really wanted to, you could tell what I am. Or you could tell what someone else who isn’t here is. As I said, this place is ideal for that.
Somehow, The Bird was drawn back to the moment she had come out of the train many moons ago.
– Has it got… something to do with how… The Lily knew my name when I first met him here?
– Very much, dear, the man said. – Those names hold the answers to many things. Most people just think of them as names, but they are completely ignoring the point of this place. They won’t realize the names are the answers. They won’t realize that only if you can tell who and what someone is… then you can just know their name in this place.
– Then… The Lily knew those things when he told me my name? But why didn’t I know myself then?
– Think about it, the man said again. – Does the name The Bird take you anywhere?
– No, The Bird said, shaking her head. – From the start I thought it was completely empty!
– And isn’t that exactly why you ran away today?
The Bird tried to focus but it was hard.
– I don’t understand.
The man sighed, the way that told The Bird that he was getting fed up enough to be willing to explain at least something.
– In the train, you had two thoughts in your heart. One was the truth you wanted to deny and one was what you were willing to think as the truth back then, he told her. – The Bird, is the latter.
Slowly, The Bird began to have a slight idea of how her current home worked.
– And The Lily saw only that about me… because that’s what he wished to see, she whispered.
– And you didn’t know your own name, because you hadn’t decided the path you should follow, the man said. – But haven’t you decided that, just today? Can’t you see better now?
The Bird closed her eyes and thought about it.
– It’s not as easy as it sounds.
– Nothing is, the man smiled. – But not as hard as you think.
The Bird sighed.
– People have an inclination to think either too little or too much. And once again, they blame that to the answer. They always say, the truth is either too far…
– Or too close, The Bird muttered, eyes closed.
Then, suddenly, her eyes were wide open, and she turned around quickly. She leaned on the railing and looked down. Down in the water.
– It’s the mirror! She cried out. – Oh my God! Why can’t you just get straight to the point!
The man was laughing and the girl was looking at the water below her.
– Could you really have figured out the meaning of this, if I had just told you?
The Bird bit her lip. She knew the man was right, but it was still irritating.
– I see, The Bird laughed. – I see… the names can change so easily! It depends on all kinds of things… Our limits, our bonds…
– Those things don’t seem to change that quick though, the man said.
– I have to go! The Bird said eagerly. – I have to say goodbye to The Pearl and The Scorpio before I leave!
– So, you have your answer now?
– Yes! the girl laughed. – I’ll be right back! She said, waved her hand, and then she ran through the park, looking back to where the man stood, a few times, with a curious smile on her face.
The Bird found The Pearl right where she thought she would, and someone else beside her.
– Scorpio! You’re here too, The Bird said, surprised. The Pearl smiled gently.
– Isn’t it a good thing, though?
– Oh, yes, of course! It’s perfect, I was looking for you both, The Bird said.
– Are you leaving? The Scorpio asked. Her eyes looked warm.
– Yes! The Bird laughed. – I’ll be gone for a while.
The Pearl looked stunned for a moment.
– Really? She gasped.
– There it is! You thought I couldn’t get it fast enough! You’re always underestimating me!
But The Bird was still laughing. Right now she couldn’t get angry about it.
– I’m sorry, The Pearl said. – I’m really happy for you! And of course I knew you’d get it at some point…
The Bird was happy too, and she was glad she’d found both The Pearl and The Scorpio so fast. When she was looking at them together, she thought it was just perfect.
Then she realized there was more to it. More to why it was perfect. For a moment she stared at them in confusion. Then it hit her.
– Violet, you’re..!
But the words wouldn’t come out of The Bird’s throat. The little girl’s eyes widened.
– You called my name!
The Bird looked amazed and like she was about to cry.
– Now I get it… what he said… The Scorpio, The Cancer…, The Bird muttered. Then she kneeled down to hug The Scorpio tightly.
– I’ll come back! she said. – And I promise that then you’re not bound to be just a Scorpio any more!
– Really…? she whispered.
– Absolutely, The Bird assured. Then she went to hug The Pearl too.
– Thank you, she said. I’ll see you soon!
– Yes, we’ll always meet again, dear Bird, The Pearl said.
– Oh, right! I’m not The Bird any more! she said. The Pearl smiled and waited.
– I’m The Mermaid.
The Mermaid’s eyes didn’t hide anything.
– You’re brave, The Pearl told her.
– It seems I never really had a choice.
The Mermaid laughed, although beside the happiness there was something very sad inside of her.
– You do know what it means, right? The Scorpio said, looking worried. – If you say, I’ll be more than a Scorpio when you come back… then you have to be more than a mermaid, when that time comes.
The Mermaid took a second to think about that.
– No, that’s not necessarily it, she said. – There are… other ways, she said, thought the last words felt really painful. – It’s not really… about me.
– It is about you! The Scorpio yelled. – I know it’s about no one else than you-
– Shh, The Mermaid whispered. – Don’t say anything any more. I’m already walking on the knives so… don’t make me lose my balance.
The Scorpio looked sad, but she didn’t say anything.
– Good luck, The Pearl said, and smiled.
– Thank you, The Mermaid said. – Both of you.
Then she turned and started running back to the park.
The man was still waiting for the Mermaid on the bridge, looking like he hadn’t moved even an inch. When the Mermaid got closer she noticed how the man’s shadow curiously seemed to reflect a multiple times and each shadow looked unnaturally long and narrow.
For a second the Mermaid looked frightened, but then she realized the bridge boards and the space between them was causing the shadow’s odd look. The man seemed to get some amusement out of the Mermaid’s reaction.
– I wouldn’t trust myself either, he said and grinned. The Mermaid didn’t want to give that impression. She looked firm when she said:
– You’re not The Sea Witch. You didn’t take anything from me as a payment. Like you said, you’re The Fairy Godmother. You… you must have…
The Mermaid wasn’t sure what words to use.
– Yes? the man said and smiled encouragingly.
– You must have… come a much… much longer way than I did… to get here.
The man shrugged.
– Or maybe I’ve never been anything else than a bare necessity. A mere tool. Empty, without a soul. Very easy to change when needed.
The Mermaid took a while to think about it.
– No, I don’t believe that.
– Why not? Are you that willing to put me through all the things you just imagined?
– Because, if you didn’t make your own choices, someone else felt everything for you, the Mermaid claimed. – And… he couldn’t have. He didn’t choose for you, because he never could have related to you. He simply couldn’t do anything about where you lead him. Or… where any of us did.
The man nodded.
– That’s right. We are not… a fairy tale. That’s why we can never really blame anyone but ourselves.
– Someday… I’d like to hear what happened to you, the Mermaid said quietly. The shine in the man’s eyes was calm.
– I just grew old.
The Mermaid smiled.
– It seems that’s when people tend to stop reaching out so much. When they grow old from the heart.
The night was quiet and the Mermaid knew she was about to leave. It made her feel strangely excited.
– It seems to me now that people who have been born old do exist. They tend to make others grow young. Maybe… you have to do the same to them.
The Mermaid walked to the bridge, sat on the railing and lifted her legs to the other side. She looked at the still water under the bridge, and then she turned to the man one more time.
– I’ll see you… Angel, she said. The man laughed briefly.
– That’s really what you think I am now? he muttered.
– That’s what I’ll call you, the Mermaid smiled softly. – After all, I like to call people names.
The Angel nodded slowly.
– I hope you have some good ones left when you get there.
The Mermaid didn’t let her nostalgia to get to her eyes. It could only be seen in her smile.
– Of course… and… there’s someone… who likes to call people names too.
– There sure is, The Angel said.
The Mermaid smiled wider, and then, she let go of the railing and jumped into the water. When her speed slowed down she kept on diving, to where the bottom of the lake should have been, and she didn’t stop to think, before she reached the surface she knew would come. And she knew she was free. She knew she had a chance. And she was going to make the most of it.
The Mermaid swam to the shore, and she knew where she was. She knew her way. She would walk and let the freezing wind dry her heavy clothes. And she wouldn’t stop walking until she’d reach a door she wouldn’t pass by any more.
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