Wendy sat at her window, her heart heavy. Tonight she would turn 18, and being a young woman at this age would make her quite the un-becoming spinster. She sighed, allowing herself to be overcome with emotion, something that she didn't do frequently anymore. She allowed it only once a year, on her birthday, and it had been this way for the last five years.
She looked around her small apartment. It was sparse but functional, covered in the most bland of colors, holding nothing but basic belongings. A blanket here, her teapot there, all of it blending in to one another. She was proud of what she had mostly because she had defied the odds and worked for it herself. Her parents had paid for the initial deposit on the flat (although that was an argument all its own) but she would never allow them to do anything else. Being a driven young woman, she had pursued a job working at the library and, although she barely made ends meet, found her work fulfilling. She had always loved stories and enjoyed seeing the different types of literature that would flood in, caressing each binding as a special treasure. Yet, she never read any of them. She only read what was needed to get through her schooling, then nothing more.
Wendy had avoided everything that may remind her of her beloved dreams that she could never shake. The beautiful colors, the smells, the enchanting stories of mermaids in blue sparkling lagoons, all of it was nothing in comparison to the soft whisper that echoed; "I shall never forget you".
A chill snaked its way up her spine. She shook the memories from her mind as her heart began to throb. She knew what she had to do. The last few weeks leading up to her birthday were full of thought and, even though she was determined, she felt her resolve begin to break. She knew he would never hear her, bloody hell, it may have all been a dream it seems so long ago, but she had to bring solace to herself. With shaking limbs and ragged breathing, she leaned forward in her window bench, softly opening the panes. The snow was falling softly and, as a chill began to break, she wrapped her robe more tightly around her collar. With tears now streaming down her face she mustered all the strength she had to utter the most heartbreaking of words.
"You have forgotten me," she whispered, her mouth going dry. "Now, I must begin to forget you. Goodbye forever, Peter Pan".
Her eyes closed and she felt the breeze blow through her hair. She sighed, allowing herself to imagine all of the beautiful sweet memories that had plagued her for the last five years. The beautiful images swirled before her closed eyes and she felt herself becoming warm with the pleasure that accompanied them all. This was what she had to leave behind. She forced her mind to stop flooding with images. But the warmth remained.
It was then that Wendy realized that the air had turned warm, and was coming in sweetly scented breaths toward her face. Before she could even answer, she heard the tell-tale jingle of fluttering fairy wings.
"Wendy," came a low and smooth voice, much deeper than she had remembered. "Forever would be an awfully long time".