"Say goodbye to the halls and the classes
Say hello to a job and the taxes
The weekends with old friends
Spilling into a nine to five routine"
Chapter One
"Peter, I have to go home now." Wendy said in annoyance, yet with a tinge of sadness. She didn't want to leave Neverland, yet what choice did she have. She couldn't just stay. What would her parents say? How would her brothers feel? They'd all think she was dead. She couldn't do that to them.
"Why? Why can't you just stay here?" Peter asked indignantly. He didn't want to let her go.
"Yeah, Wendy, stay with us!" The lost boy twins chorused.
"You could be our mum—"
"And read us bedtime stories—"
"Or sing to us—"
All the lost boys interrupted each other, their words rushed in desperateness, their words falling on top of the other. Wendy coming to Neverland had been a dream come true, it reminded them of what it felt like to have a mum, something they had long since forgotten. But they missed the feeling, and they didn't to let it go.
Wendy looked at all of them reluctantly, if things were that easy and the choice was her, she would have stayed there without question. But alas, Nederland was just a dream, a fictionary land, she couldn't live there forever.
"Boys, as much as I love to, I can't. I have a mother, a father and two naughty little brothers to return to. What would they say if I didn't return?" Wendy reasoned.
"But we would miss you, Wendy."
"You're the best mother I've had!"
"Please don't go!"
"But what about us? We would miss you as well."
The series of words flowed once more from the mouths of the lost boys.
"Yeah, Wendy, what about US?" Peter's voice echoed through the woods as all the boys quieted down. They all stared curiously at Wendy awaiting her response, hope evident in their eyes.
"Peter! You of all people should understand, I can't stay. This place isn't real, not for people like me. Even if I do stay, someday the illusion is going to fall, and we'll all be brought to reality. Me and you, we're different. And maybe you want me now, but what about ten years from now, when I'll be older and no longer the same person. What about then? You'll just toss me out like some filthy piece of trash, and I'll have nowhere to go. Don't you see, this place is a trap, I don't belong her. This, we, can never happen." Wendy rushed out, tears running down her cheek, as she cried out, her voice cracking mercilessly.
Peter's face stared blankly at her, his eyes full of hurt. His mouth opened and then closed. He didn't know what to say. Every tiny spectrum of hope had vanished, his heart felt crushed. Turning towards the lost boys, he spoke.
"Come on, boys, leave her alone, she has made her decision." Peter voice broke the dead silence. His tone was emotionless and his face numb. Slowly, he began to walk away.
"But—"One of the boys started protesting.
"I SAID LEAVE HER ALONE!" Peter screamed out, loud and clear.
Silence filled the air once more, no one dared to saw anything as everyone cowered back in fright.
"Can we at least say goodbye?" The twins asked meekly.
"Do what you like." Peter replied hardheartedly. Still continuing to walk away.
Wendy stayed dumbstruck, staring at the commotion she had caused. Rubbing her palms against her eyes, she wiped away the tears. The lost boys walked towards, throwing themselves onto her, not wanting to let go. As they came close to her, she could see evidence of tears in their eyes as well. Her chest felt tight, and her heart ached at the thought of never being able to see their faces again. Hugging them closer to her, she whispered her goodbyes. Wiping their tears and comforting them.
As they mumbled their final farewells, they began to slowly walk away, following peter's descending shape, waving and blowing kisses.
She stared captivatingly at Peter's distant figure as he stalked off. He was nearly out of sight.
"PETER!" She yelled, and he stopped in his spot yet didn't turn around.
"Are you mad? Because—"She began only to be interrupted.
Peter whirled around abruptly. "MAD? You think I'm MAD? No, Wendy, I'm hurt. You think you don't matter to us, that this," he gestured between the two of them, "is just a temporary thing? Well you want to know what, you're wrong. We love you. I love you. And that's forever." The words were bawled out, slow, yet fuming.
Wendy stood there, she didn't know what to say. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth tried to formulate a single word, yet couldn't. Her throat felt dry, and for a couple of seconds she forgot to breathe. She lifted her gaze from the ground to his chest, building up the courage to look into his eyes
"And I'll show you. Ok, in ten years, I'll show you." Peter spoke again.
Wendy looked at him questionably, and she finally opened her mouth, daring herself to speak.
"What do you mean?" She voiced, confused. Ten years? He'll show her what?
"In ten years, we'll be back, and just you see, you'll be wrong. We will always remember you. We will always love you."