The Reset Button

It seemed that from about 6 o'clock on the 31st December, the world began counting down. Many just got caught up in the general excitement and hype that surrounded the evening.Some could hardly wait to leave the old year behind and step into the new.

Rosslyn was one of those people. The year she was looking back upon had not exactly been the best year ever. There had been losses, challenges and hard times she hadn't thought she'd make it through. On more than one occasion, Rosslyn felt like she'd recreated that iconic Bridget Jones scene, on the couch in her PJs with a block of chocolate and a glass of wine, that sad old redone Eric Carmen song playing loudly from her player as she half sang, half sobbed along, at least a thousand times. Certainly so many that she had long ago lost count. In any case, she was anxious for the new year. She couldn't wait to stand, looking back at it, waving it goodbye, confident in the knowledge that she could leave it behind in the past. Like someone desperately wanting a webpage to reload, Rosslyn was pressing so hard on the refresh button, staring so intently at the clock on the wall as the seconds took minutes to go by, that the pressure could have broken the computer mouse, or the clock hands, or both, quite easily. Rosslyn longed for the new year. Rosslyn longed for the opportunity to hit 'refresh'.

Rochelle on the other hand sat on her balcony, half-full champagne glass in hand and a big smile on her face as she reflected on the year that had been. The downs and the ups, the lows and the highs, the bad times and the good. This year, all things considered, had been pretty darn good. Nothing majorly bad had happened, she'd finally landed the job of her dreams and had gotten a brand new car and her very own place. Just to top it all off. Many a moment this year had made her want to echo Liesel's ecstatic squeal at the end of 'Sixteen Going On Seventeen' in the Sound Of Music. As she laid back in her chair and took a casual sip of her sparkly bubbles, Rochelle had to admit, her year had been pretty great.

Though the rides had been different and for different reasons, both Rosslyn and Rochelle could agree that that year had been a roller coaster. Both were eager for that fateful strike of 12 that would wash the year anew.

Suddenly, Rosslyn stopped flicking channels. The words of one of the TV New Years celebrations coverage host's had caught her attention. "Wherever you are, right now, whatever you're doing. However this year has gone, take this opportunity to reflect, right now, on what's happened this year..."

Rochelle's ears pricked up as the sound of the New Year's TV coverage sailed through the open door and into her ear, tickling it with it's whisper.
"Take this opportunity now, on the verge of that stroke of midnight to make a wish for the year ahead. Think about your hopes and your dreams for this new year. Take a breath and get ready to step into it."

As the TV host had recommended, Rosslyn breathed in deeply, proceeding to hold her breath as the host on TV continued. "Remember, from that stroke of midnight, the reset button has been hit. You have a fresh start, a whole brand new year to do with it what you will." So make the most of it." The host on TV took a deep breath as a big, bright smile spread across her lips. "And, without further ado, let the countdown begin!"
Ten.
Nine.
Eight.
Seven.
Six.

Five!
Four!
Three!
Two!
One!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 

Race Against Time

To some, it seemed that Felicity must be crazy. To others, she seemed lonely. But Felicity knew the truth. Felicity knew that Nilli existed. Felicity knew that Nilli was real. Nilli was Felicity's best friend. Had been since she was a tiny baby. Had been for as long as she could remember. But, Nilli was also a little magical. He was invisible to everyone but Felicity, and to everyone else, Nilli was just her imaginary friend.

The problem was that Felicity was growing up and the two friends didn't know what would happen when she did. Would Nilli still be around when she grew up? Would he loose his magic and become just a lifeless children's toy once again? Would he become invisible to Felicity? Or, would everything stay just as it was now? Just the same, like nothing at all had changed? 

The answers to these questions Nilli nor Felicity knew. That was why they were in a race. A race against time. They had until Felicity's birthday. That much they knew. After that, they didn't have any idea what would happen. The two friends knew of a single potion. A 'cure' of sorts that would, like the Blue Fairy had done in Pinnochio, turn Nilli into a real boy. And they had until Felicity's birthday to find it.

The friends worked round the clock, day and night in search of the magical cure to their predicment. The 'real' potion was legend to Nilli's kind, and he'd heard of it only in whispers. Not once had he spied it with his own eyes.
"What do you think?" Felicity asked, turning to face him, another glass full of brightly coloured liquid in her hand. Nilli studied it, turning his head one way then the other as if this might give him a better view.
"I don't know," he said uncertainly at last, meeting her eyes. Felicity's face fell. "Legend has it that the real thing, the real 'real' cure is rainbow, and sparkly."
Felicity wanted to laugh, and she did. "Seriously?" she asked. "It's rainbow, and it sparkles? It's like something out of a kid's story."
Nilli shrugged. "You have to admit, Felicity," he said in his high pitched voice, "you and I, we're like something out of a kid's story."
A smile formed on her face. "You're right, Nilli. You're a dream come true. Everything I ever could have wanted. Everything any kid could have possibly wanted, I've got with you." She paused, taking a deep breath. "That's why we have to win this race. That's why we have to make you real."

So the friends worked without stopping until they miraculously produced the sparkly rainbow potion required to turn Nilli into a real boy one sunny afternoon a mere week before their time was due to run out.

Right after Felicity blew out her birthday candles, making her wish, Nilli drank the rainbow coloured liquid. Felicity's family gasped as Nilli materialised right before their very eyes. Sccared by his sudden appearence, by the unknown, some of them screamed. Others recoiled or ran away. So Nilli went into hiding, resuming his invisible form so as not to frighten anybody else.

Little did Felicity's family realise when she brought home her boyfriend Neal to meet them years later that they were meeting the very same person who had frightened them that day of Felicity's birthday when he'd suddenly materialised before their very eyes.

Now, on their wedding day, you could not wipe the smiles off the face of anyone in the room. As she recited her vows, Felicity could not have meant anything more in her life. Everything she said as she gazed into his bright blue eyes was truer than anything she'd ever said before. "Today, I;'m getting everything I ever could have wanted. Today, all my dreams are coming true. Because today's the first day of the rest of our lives. Today is the day I get to marry my very best friend, and I couldn't wish for anything more in all the world."
Her smile grew wider still as she leaned in to whisper into his ear. "I love you," she said, "Nilli."