Flash Fiction: Her Fairy

“Her Fairy”

(364 words)

In a little sunny corner at the edge of the garden, where the yard blended into the woods, stood a tree, and at the base of that tree was little door, with a little window above it. She could see the tiny stone pathway leading up to the home where a light shone through the windows. She had spent her life guarding this tree, this house, although she had never seen who lived there. She had left berries on the doorstep and mini-cupcakes covered in frosting. They always disappeared and sometimes, in her own home, she would notice new flowers in the vase on her piano or a beautifully polished stone on her windowsill. She and her fairy, for she was sure it must be a fairy what else could it be, had lived in harmony since she had bought the house fifty years ago. Now it would be her granddaughter’s turn.

She walked down the gentle hill in back of the house. She bent over and laid a lone pearl in front of the door. It was a good-bye gift, she wanted the fairy to know that she would miss her, but also was hoping that the fairy would accept her granddaughter. The fairy had never been anything but kind to her. She knew enough, though, to realize that you did not want a fairy to be angry or hurt. She had told her granddaughter about the little house at the edge of the wood, and the young woman had seemed to believe her, but could you ever really be sure? She knew it sounded crazy, like the ramblings of a wishful old lady.

Before she turned around to head back up the lawn, she stared for a few minutes at the light gleaming through the window. To her amazement, the curtain was pulled aside and her little fairy stood there, golden hair gleaming, the tip of her shimmering wings peaking over her shoulders. The fairy gave a light wave and she heard a tinkling bell-like sound. Then the curtain lowered again. The woman smiled through her tears as she slowly walked back up to finish readying the house for her granddaughter’s arrival.

‾‾‾‾‾‾

Dottie at Tink’s Place has a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge that I’m enjoying. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate you post your story on Friday – 350 words, give or take.