Fireflies

(An excerpt from the novel, The Underwater Whispers, written by J. Flessa circa. November 2020)

“It’s okay, we’re okay, and that’s all that matters.” Lillian glanced around the surrounding forest. There was a tiny blink of light, almost a speck, floating in the trees a couple feet away from where they sat. She looked across to the other side of the river, and a couple more blinking yellowish blips popped into existence.

She stood slowly, walking out onto the rocky shore. The leaves rustled in the light breeze, and the water swept across the rocks. The surrounding trees began to light up with little dots of lantern light. Lillian felt a smile tug at her lips. She looked back at Kyna, who was still by the fire, staring into the surrounding trees.

A tiny beacon came to float in front of Lillian, and she held her hand out. In the dim light, a tiny black bug landed, it’s abdomen pulsing ever so slightly with warm illumination. Lillian held her other hand out to Kyna.

“Ky, come here.”

Kyna got up, stepping around the fire, and watching her feet as she inched toward Lillian at the water's edge. She stumbled, slipping on a couple rocks, but Lillian caught her just in time and steadied her. Kyna looked at the little bug on the back of Lillian’s hand. It glowed brighter; the light reflecting in Kyna’s eyes. A small smile pulled at her lips. Lillian took Kyna’s hand, and urged the bug to crawl over to her.

Kyna held it close to her face, her eyes wide. Lillian stepped back. She watched as the fireflies glided into the surrounding area. The creatures swirled and danced across the water as they came to meet the girls. Soon the whole forest was alight, the fire dying to give the tiny beacons more life. The stars cast a bluish hue across the river; the water reflecting the parade of glimmering sparks.

Lillian stood there watching Kyna twirl slowly in place, arms outspread, reaching to the lightning bugs that scattered around her. She held her face to the sky, one landing on her nose before taking off again. She giggled. Her form was draped in a cascade of silver, dotted in gold.

She turned to Lillian, giving her a smile brighter than the atmosphere around her, eyes crinkling at the corners.

Lillian’s breath escaped her. Her chest warmed, and her stomach flipped.

‘I’m glad she found you.’

---

A work in progress for a longer project.

- Your Captain