why did i ever have to grow up

Once upon a time she was a fairy. Ears already pointed, her wings the feet she used to climb the trees in the forest as nature watched.

The earth smiled down upon her then, for their homes were the same, and finally someone saw the magic that was meant to be there. Cypress trees were houses, waterfalls were points of meeting, trees were castles and hideouts, twigs were timber, and life was seen through the fern and pine tinted lens that only children can see through.

I stared up at the trees as the light filtered between them and closed my eyes as tiny specks dotted my face.

Freckles of light.

Where is she now, I wonder.

Sometimes if I close my eyes long enough I feel as if I can see her sitting in the ferns telling me it’s okay to go back in time. You can stay as long as you want here; the sun will wash away the present stories and replace them with me, she says.

her.

But don’t worry, if you think about it, you don’t have to wish to go back in time to see me again.

At least not yet.

why did i ever have to grow up