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." 

By The Light of The Moon

The nighttime, without the moon's bright light, is dark and gloomy. Shadows lurk, easily hidden. People wander around blindly, no light to guide their way. Others are lost, consumed by the blackness, feeling like they are alone in the world. In the darkness, it seems all hope is gone. That was my world before you came into it. The moon had been there once, but it disappeared suddenly and I'd been lost in the darkness ever since. Until you came along.

When you arrived, you brought the moon back with you. You brought the light back into the night, so that the world is not plunged into pitch black darkness. You returned the light to the world.It's almost like the moonlight is different to what it was before, but it's still there, brightening the otherwise darkness of the night. Returning light to the world.

By the light of the moon I'm guided once again. By the light of the moon I'm reminded that I'm not the only one here in the world. By the light of the moon, where once I'd been lost, I'm found again. By the light of the moon, the darkness is starting to disappear. By the light of the moon, the world seems bright once again.

You are my moon in the night sky, that lights up the world when it's dark, finds, me, guides me, keeps me company and restores my hope in the world. Where once the moon was stolen away, you've brought it back to remind me what I had once and what I can and will have again.

Smiling Winds

Everyone laughed at her as she walked along. Why, she did not know. She was only being herself, after all. What she did know was that it upset her. Quite a lot, though again, the why to her question was a complete mystery. She was too naïve to realise that the laughter had malice behind it and was not born of good intent. She’d start with her head high, looking straight ahead, only to end up with head bowed, staring at the ground when she reached the end of the street.

It happened so often though, that she soon realised, or discovered, the malicious undertone of the laughter. She was still confused as to the why however. Whys always confused her. Whys were always a hard question. In place of the logic, the answer to a why, in her case anyway, required tapping into someone’s mind, and that was almost impossible.

Initially, she had been saddened by the taunting, and the strange, confusing looks that were shot her way. It seemed at times, as if every back turned on her as she passed. An aisle was created, as those around her receded into the shadows, leaving her a lone figure in the spotlight.

One day, a man smiled at her as she came toward him and his street shop. Given her past, she looked behind her to see if there was someone else, but as usual there was no one there. It was just her and this smiling man. She slowly stepped closer with curiosity, wordlessly gesturing to herself. The man, still smiling, nodded his head. For a moment he turned away. She had just been starting to smile, and at this, the smile faded, at a much quicker pace than it had first come. But then, he turned back, a bright red balloon in his hand, and at snail’s pace, her smile gradually returned to her lips. He held the balloon out toward her, but she stood motionless, not believing, or perhaps not registering that it was in fact her that the balloon was being offered to. He thrust his arm down again, though his expression was not impatient nor annoyed. Instead, it seemed an encouraging gesture. Shakily, she extended her arm toward him, at which, the man’s smile grew wider still as he handed her the bright red balloon.

Her smile remained in place as she wandered away, balloon firmly in her grasp. She tugged gently to pull it down, and lightly touched a finger to it’s surface with her free hand. Quickly, she pulled her hand away at the quick zap that jolted through her finger. As she passed a shop window, she noticed her hair was sticking out in all directions, which served only to cause her smile to widen the slightest bit more. Overtime, she’d come to the conclusion that her appearance was what people must be laughing at. They didn’t know her, so they couldn’t possibly have been laughing at her personality. Sure, she was a little out there. Eccentric, some might say. Others would simply call it zany. But she called it her, and now, with a balloon in her hand and a smile on her lips, she decided that she was just being her. She was doing nothing wrong and had nothing to be sorry for, and so why allow other people’s reactions to bring her down?

After tearing her eyes away from her reflection before her, she began to skip down the street. As usual, her simple presence turned heads, but unlike usual, her shoulders did not slump, her smile did not disappear, and she did not begin to stare at the ground. The balloon flying along behind her created a warm gust of wind, constantly rushing over her and enveloping her in it’s reassuring embrace. She was unsure whether it was the wind or the fact that something had clicked inside her, but she didn’t think she cared. All that mattered was her sudden, unusual burst of confidence, the fresh, sparkling smile on her face and the new found spring in her step as she skipped along down the street, bright red balloon flying swiftly behind her, as if it were running a marathon just in an attempt to keep up.


So, if you see this girl around, with the wild hair and bright red balloon, lend her a smile. It will only boost her confidence more, and it may just make you happy too.

I'll Remember Yesterday

It's all new. This world, this life, without you. But somehow, it's easier than it was before. It's easier to comprehend a life after the life I had with you where once it didn't seem possible at all. Please don't think that this means I'll forget you. I love you and I miss you still. More than anything, I wish you were here with me.That you'd never left at all. Is that crazy?

But, whether I like it or not, time goes on, and with it I am dragged along. There are often times when I long to cling to yesterday. Cling to a world with you. Where this heartache and pain never happened. Where you are here, standing by my side. Two peas in a pod, you and I. You and me against the world. Just the two of us, together forever. Together until the very end. That was the dream, and we lived it too. But I wish with everything I have that I could live in it forever. I wish I could have you back. That I could go back to how it was before. Just you and I. The dream team. Is that selfish?

All these wishes, I know, are in vein. I want the impossible, but it's just that, as hard as it may be. Once, the thought sent a waterfall of tears raining from my eyes. Now, it's just a sad little smile. I can say your name without shaking. I can laugh and remember without a tear. Is that bad?

But, when someone like you is gone, there's only so long you can live with the shadow left behind staring you in the face. Nothing will ever be like you and I. There's no replacing what we had. That's another unobtainable impossibility. But, it would be nice to have a little company till I see you again. Another friend. To talk to. To laugh with and cry with. To share everything with. Someone else here, to stand beside me and help me take on the world. Someone else here so that I'm not all alone with all of this.

I hope you'll understand, and I'll hope you'l forgive what needs forgiving. I hope you know that I can't wait for the day I'll see you again, but I hope you understand that it will be longer for me than for you and I hope you'll understand that I don't feel like I can do this by myself. I hope you know that tomorrow's a new day and I hope you can understand that just because tomorrow is a new day, it doesn't mean that I'll forget about today. It doesn't mean that I won't remember yesterday. Tomorrow is a new day, but I won't forget today, and I'll always remember yesterday.