Wings of Dreams

For Lily had always found a hiding place in her dreams, an abode where she turned her back on the vicissitudes of life. All this was to change tonight. The slumber over, one by one colors start appearing in the mind; she was no more Lily; she was a bright angel whose wings were smeared with gold and lavender.

She woke up with her eyes open, floating above town a mile over the place, above familiar streets and warm ethereal glow. The world is alive with color and sound, a whisper of joy in every note; she can see the sun coming above the rooftops, its golden rays cast in absolute purpose in that instant.

Being Curious, she slid down a long, winding staircase. Her heart was pounding with excitement. So lightly did she land in a park of grass and trees. There were children playing, and couples laughing, with the sweet fragrance of flowers blooming into the air. Still, as she watched on, she saw that a young boy sat alone upon the swing, and tears ran down his face.

She came to him, her wings trailing dragging behind her like a gentle wind. She asked him in very soft words, like lullaby words, "Why dost you weep?".

The boy looked up into his tears. "I lost my puppy," he sniffled, holding onto chains of swing with small hands.

Lily wanted him. She knelt beside him as if a warm glow radiated outward from her. "Let's go looking for him together," she said. Stretching out instinctively, with her hand she caught herself bathed in the soft light at the moment by him.

They walked up to a tree whose boughs bent back and forth in the wind. Suddenly, with a lurch forward of the earth under that tree, out darted the boy's puppy, his tail going at top speed. The boy gave a shriek of joy, flinging himself upright from where he had been sitting. And when the puppy leaped into his arms, it was as if a happiness washed over Lily. She had made a difference.

Urged by experience, she kept moving around the park and continued helping whoever asked her to do something for him. She ran into an old man sitting on a bench staring at a photo in his hands, with his eyes gazing wistfully and sadly. She approached him, and love filled her heart. "What is wrong?" she asked.

He looked up and used the sparkle of surprise to light up his eyes. "I miss my wife," he claimed, his voice trembling. "She died last year; the world feels so empty without her.".

She felt the sting of his sorrow. "Your love for her lingers," Lily whispered. "Keep those memories; they are treasure." And so she knelt beside him, reminding him with tender touches all the moments-the laughter, the dances, the quiet evenings-they had shared. As he was forcing a smile through his tears, Lily knew that she had helped him remember his strength.

As the sun moved up, Lily pursued her target. She saw a girl sitting under a tree, with her face buried in her hands. "What is wrong?" Lily asked, her voice soft.

I am seriously afraid of failure, the girl declared, wiping the tears streaming down her cheeks. "I want to sing, but what if people don't like my voice?

"Believe in yourself," said Lily. "Every shining star has its own ray of shine." Then let your shine shine, too. And with that spark of inspiration, the girl nodded, and a little glimmer of hope flickered in her eyes.

And finally, at dusk, at day's end, she came upon a young couple, first date, sitting on a bench in the park, disputing softly. And frustration hung there, but under all of that lay love. She floated closer; her presence soothed the atmosphere. "Sometimes love must wait," she said. "Listen to one another; your hearts know the way back.".

She stopped as their faces changed from anger to understanding. Hand in hand, they started talking with that voice as if honey came forth from their mouths; Lily was very happy that she had a role in bringing them together.

The sunset painted colors in the sky as Lily found herself among many other angels on a puffy white cloud, softly shining with its very own light. An angel looked at her with knowledge shining in his silver wings. "You have a beautiful heart," he said. "Every act of kindness echoes throughout the universe. Your spirit will always carry the light of these moments.". When the morning light crept in, warmth billowed about Lily, and she knew it was time to wake. Reluctantly, she felt herself drawn from the world of dreams-laughter and enjoyment receding like a tune fading into the distance. Then it was that morning sun peeking into her window through her wake-up call when she learned many things that night and took into that new day. From then on, Lily went out seeking every opportunity to help others; to share with one stranger or comfort a troubled friend. She learned she didn't really need wings to be an angel. She would be tangled forever with the magic of her dream, passionately in love, embracing her role in that world. Every little piece of goodness done for anyone was a tiny propeller wing that bade her soar past the ordinary, spreading happiness along the way. With every little thing, Lily found how to shine ever bright, making the mundane turn extraordinary.