It’s the time of the year when the snowy nights start to draw in as the little girl watches the beautiful snowflakes fall. As they fall, they float slowly like the feathers of a bird. Gleaming in the darkness, her coffee brown eyes were filled with an ocean of tears.
This was going to be her first winter without her lovely big brother, Henry.
Her heart sunk as she stared at the treehouse that she and her brother played in. She was reminiscent of the time they once threw snowballs at each other and she went ballistic after he threw a snowball right at her Barbie doll.
No one knew that Henry would kick the bucket soon and that one day his face would be off the Earth. Her parents weren’t holding up, but Kitsu’s father tried his best to keep his beautiful smile on his face everyday even though it pained him to lose his only heir. As for her mother, Kitsu saw less of her and felt her absence as the days went by. Kitsu’s aunt, Aunt Sherry came by to fill the void left by Kitsu’s mother, however it wasn’t the same as before and they all were cognizant about that.
” If only…” says Kitsu under her breath wishfully.
As she looked at the blanket of snow on the roof getting thicker and thicker, an owl with golden eyes like that of a burning furnace caught Kitsu’s eye. It was as white as snow and its fur had a texture that looked soft and fair. She hadn’t noticed his presence as it stood by on the treehouse’s roof. Something about it’s golden eyes drew the girl’s attention toward him.
Suddenly Kitsu decided to get closer look at the alluring creature that had appeared out of the blue. She grabbed her turquoise anorak along with her warm monkey hat and went out immediately. Kitsu scurried her way down the stairs and opened the door swiftly. As she opened the door she was dumbfounded. It was the owl!
She stood by as it stared right into her soft eyes and a voice said to her, ” Little girl, what bothers you?”
Kitsu searched around for the one who uttered those words, but not a soul was around her. She looked down at the owl and it reiterated its words. Kitsu was confused and she asked, ” Is it you Mr. Owl?” The owl howled and her eyes opened widely.
Suddenly she asked plaintively, “Are you able to bring my brother back?”
The owl did not respond and suddenly it flew away into a murky and cold forest. As it flew in the cold and dry air, Kitsu ran after it and shouted out desperately, ” Mr. Owl! Mr. Owl!” It ignored the girl as the snow grew heavier and her feet slowly started to sink in the snow. She hoped that if it could speak, perhaps it was magical. As her heart raced and she grew tired, the owl disappeared into thin air and her heart stopped.
Where was she and what was she chasing after? She had forgotten that she was chasing after the magical owl that brought her into the strange forest she was in.
Before her eyes was a huge tree that bear crystal white apples that looked very appealing to the eye. It was surrounded by a field of beautifully coloured flowers with colours of light blue and lavender. She had seen these flowers before, but where? She didn’t remember.
What she supposed to do? Grab the beautiful flowers or eat the white apples that looked juicy and appealing to eat. She knew that she had seen the tree and the flowers somewhere, like it was happening for the second time.
Kitsu crouched and decided to smell the flowers. Afterwards a strange giraffe appeared before her eyes. What was going on? She hadn’t had a clue what was going on in this eccentric world. Suddenly she had a familiar voice coming from the giraffe.
” Henry?”
Kitsu looked up at the tall giraffe and it looked down at her. ” Kitsu?” said the giraffe shockingly. ” Henry!” she squealed. Henry was astonished, he didn’t know what was going on. ” Shouldn’t you be at home Kitsu? I thought I was dead and you were alive,” said Henry.
” I thought so too,” she replied as she embraced him tightly, ” I had missed you. Everyone is missing you. When are you going to come back?” Henry kept his silence as a tear fell from his eye. ” I can’t,” he said in a hoarse voice.
Why? Why can’t he?, Kitsu asked herself as she let him go. ” Why?” she said sadly. Henry smiled and he said, ” I know you may miss me and I may miss you and the family, but this is how it is supposed to be. I’m now at peace and you should learn to accept my death Kitsu.”
Tears ran down Kitsu’s cheeks as she didn’t understand why Henry wanted to leave her. ” But why?” she asked him, ” Why are you leaving us behind? Did you not love us?” Henry replied, ” I will still love you along with mom and dad. I always had, but it’s time to let go. I know it may not be easy, but you have to learn how to move on Kitsu and I know you can. If you stay behind here with me, mom and dad may not be able to cope up with your loss. I can never go back and those are the beauties of life. For I am at peace and you should learn to give yourself the happiness you deserve.”
Kitsu sniffled as she wiped her tears constantly. ” Will we ever see you again?” Henry smiled and said, ” Not anytime soon, but I hope so.” Kitsu gave Henry a big warm hug and Henry felt her warmth.
Henry the giraffe made the crystal white apple fall from the tree and it landed on the ground. Kitsu let go of Henry and Henry said, ” I think you are supposed to eat this little apple.” Kitsu grabbed the apple from the ground and looked at Henry one more time. ” Until we meet again,” said Kitsu and Henry replied, ” Until we meet again.”
Kitsu returned back to her normal world and found herself in the arms of her mother and father. She had been tugged. in a snugly blanket and when she opened her eyes her parents were blissful. Ever since that day Kitsu learned to live happily without Henry and soon her family was happy once more. After two years, Kitsu had a baby brother and they named him ‘ Henry,’ the boy who made Kitsu find her way back.
Never look back and keep on moving on even if life throws stones right back at you. For the ones you have lost would want you to move on without them and live a happy life.
Wonderful work here. So talented. You’re a good artist