This segment was written three years ago and never posted to the website...
Melody gazed awe-struck at the creature that levitated before her. Never in her life had she seemed anything like this, and somehow, her heart answered it, as if it was opening up toward it, who she now believed was female.
Melody could not tear her eyes off this small blue entity.
She grasped the cool moss beneath her, and sunk her feet into the earth in another steadying motion.
'My name is Cyan,' the small creature cooed, spinning slowly around her head like a planet orbiting around its sun. Her small robe billowed around her like blue smoke which trailed around Melody's head, giving her the appearance of an opium smoker.
'A Guardian Chara?' Melody thought, her eyes wide with awe, confusion, and the slightest hint of terror. Was she going mad!? This must be a dream-crazy dream...Only, it was so-real. The colours of the forest, the blue in Cyan's eyes, the feel of the wet moss...
'Yes,' suddenly the creature's voice was inside Melody's head, wide and resonating like a gong.
How could this be? Melody started, almost tripping over a thick root, and falling onto the damp earth that surrounded her.
Melody grasped her head in horror, but was soothed by the being's words.
'This is how we can communicate, I to you, you to me. We have no need to speak, when we have a gift that surpasses anything man might be capable of. When you truly love without fear, anything is possible.
The last words were frightening and comforting at the same time, and at this Melody reached out to touch the floating Chara, in an effort to retain any sanity she still had left.
'You, you, came from inside me?' Melody thought, hard, unused to this unusual form of communication, as the Chara landed in her hand.
Cyan's voice came again, beautiful and lilting, as the breeze that blows over the ocean deep.
'Every child has a Guardian Chara egg inside of them, these eggs exist to allow children to embrace who they are and who they wish to be. Their hopes, dreams, and the strength to express themselves all rest inside this egg. I was born for that purpose. Right now, you believe your life is in shambles, I will help you heal those wounds, if you believe in me, I promise, beyond anything else that your life will change for the better. We can make it possible; but I will need your full cooperation, so that you may embrace yourself.
'Yes, I shall,' Melody's voice quivered. 'Anything...'
'Have patience, Melody, your time will come, history will reverse, and things shall improve,'
'Be patient Melody'
'Be patient Melody'
Cyan glowed and twirled around Melody, and somehow a warm, glowing feeling of hope emanated from somewhere inside Melody's soul. Melody thought, if this was real, would history really reverse? Would she get her family back? Her voice?
It didn't matter that this fairy-like creature before her, what called itself a 'Guardian Chara' defied all scientific reason, for this creature was the only glimmer of hope in a life in a life without hope. Surely, Melody should not be deprived of miracles in her life?
'Be patient Melody'
'Thank-you,' Melody answered softly.
'Thank-you,'
Thank-you,' Silent tears began to run down her tired face. A look of joy lit it up as the tears continued to run. Melody, sobbed with happiness, quietly, beautifully, without making a sound, and at this a delicate drizzle began, covering Melody and Cyan both with warm summer rain.
Melody surrendered to these words that were like a lullaby inside her head, which she indeed lay down on the grass, her eyes tear-stained, but with a smile on her face.
. . .
The days passed in a whirlwind continuum, Melody supported by Cyan's comforting words that change would soon come to her life. The only catch perhaps was that she must be open to every opportunity which made it available to her in her life. This Melody accepted whole-heartedly in whatever peculiar form change might come in, Melody was prepared, as long as history might reverse and her life might be well again. For this was the greatest promise ever given to Melody, the greatest present she might be given, and perhaps that was what sustained Melody through her ordeal. It was as if this was her sanctification after a lifetime (for that was how it felt) of suffering.
Melody tried her best to put on a fresh face for life, and soon her bravely smiling visage became a common sight as she forced herself to be happy in preparation for the joys that were close at hand. Belief had rendered her weaker and gentler than before, but it allowed her to relieve herself of her burden, and pass it onto the shoulders of a fairy-like creature not 7 inches long.
Her 'parents' delighted at this wonderful new change of attitude- and embraced this miracle as proof of their superior parenting and decided to treat the family to something special.
'Melody,' Elizabeth's voice rang through the empty hallway, searching for the girl.
Finding her quietly reading on her bed, (really discussing with her Chara), Elizabeth greeted her with a smile before holding out four tickets. Her hair was done up in the latest braided fashion and upon her head was a ridiculous ostrich feather bonnet that Elizabeth had bought at the local Tiffany's.
'My dear in realization of this remarkable new change in your countenance, I decided we should celebrate- therefore I have bought the family tickets to see the performance.'
Melody's eyes shown with new light, and her expression bade Mrs. Wesley to continue.
Removing her silken, ostrich plumed hat, Elizabeth continued.
'Four tickets to see a troop of exquisite Japanese dancers!'
Melody's head snapped up like a puppet's and she began to smile broadly, nodding her head vigorously (as this was how she communicated pure ecstasy) and grasped Elizabeth's hand, an act rarely done, her eyes shining, like miniature stars.
'I'll admit it is unusual, and I did wish to see the vaudeville performance, but seeing this, I simply couldn't help myself! Won't Mrs. Hardwood of 48 Quentin Road be amused?' she chuckled.
'I knew you would happy about this darling...!' she continued.
Melody was in fact extremely excited by this unusual and fascinating prospect, and now with her Guardian Chara guiding her every thought and feeling, a little imaginary friend come to life beside her, her conscious even perhaps, giving heart to everything she did. Remembering Cyan's words, Melody decided that going for a trip to the local concert hall for a performance involving—Japanese dancers of all things!- was a small price to pay indeed for a wonderful future! How extraordinary!
Having graciously accepted, the days until the performance literally flew by.
The great day finally came and found Melody being dressed by her mother in a rich blue chiffon, with satin gloves, embroidered with rosebuds, and a necklace of freshwater pearls (since Elizabeth was quite paranoid that if she lent her oyster pearls, that Melody would lose them with the deft hand of a magician!).
'Darling!' cooed Elizabeth, having donned a strapless silk gown in rich emerald. Her bare white shoulders were as flawless as cream, and her eyes danced with mischief and light. Elizabeth's boudoir was an anomaly of rich crimson carpets and furnishings of gold encrusted oriental vases studded with tiny emeralds. Crystal mirrors were littered everywhere, so that anyone could take the time to admire themselves in the polished glass. One table was exclusively littered with bottles of perfume which was where Elizabeth was now, trying to decide which was more agreeable for the evening, rose-lily, or eau de jasmine.
In one corner Melody sat on Elizabeth's plush turquoise divan fingering a worn photograph between her fingers. Elizabeth, meanwhile, was adjusting her hair, and powdering her bare neckline with glee.
Melody pointed toward an older man, perhaps in his late 30s in the photograph, dressed in a soldier's uniform, complete with gold braid in the photograph, her eyes wondering.
'Oh!' Elizabeth ejected. 'That was my darling father! He fought in the Great War, in several places actually. I mean he never really got his hands dirty fighting, but he was a corporal who oversaw the workings of the men in the men in the field. He was everywhere, I assure you, Germany, America, Asia...unfortunately, he died when I was 15... .'
Elizabeth's voice trailed off, and a moment of melancholy enveloped Melody, but only momentarily, for she rebounded quickly, trying her best to think of what her Chara had said, and not about the family which was not there.
'Ready darling?' Melody inspected herself once more in a mirror. Elizabeth grabbed her immediately, emotion welling in her eyes. 'You look like a lady tonight, Melly,'
Perhaps the emotion was real, but she brusquely called out ruining one of the only moments Melody allowed with her.
'Only, where in the world is that Humphrey-'
'Here, sweetheart' came the ringing cry outside the doorway. Humphrey emerged, an elegant vision, tuxedo neatly starched, complete with gardenia corsage, and diamond cufflinks- a present for his anniversary, which flickered in the candlelight.
Elizabeth ran up to squeeze his pectorals, admiring them under the tuxedo.
'You look ravishing, love,' Humphrey ejaculated kissing her, which Elizabeth responded to with a schoolgirl blush.
'I'm ready too!' came the raucous cry of Melody's little brother who flew in with torpedo like speed, and grinned openly, looking quite the little man in his sailor suit of fresh linen.
Melody tried to refrain from rolling her eyes with sarcasm.
'Well, we are ready dears, to the theatre!' cried Humphrey, Elizabeth behind him, skittering along.
Melody and her brother, Theodore, hurried to keep up, and to Melody the refracting light off their immense chandelier seemed brighter and more urgent in it blinding rays than ever. Excitement coursed through her body, and beside her, Melody could feel the presence of her Chara, who was already so beautiful she had no need to be decked out in fineries.
The cries of the vintage gentlemen Mr. Wesley echoed through the summer mansion.
'As I walk along the Bois de Boulogne with an independent air, you can hear the girls declare, he must be a millionaire!'
Melody worried that perhaps Humphrey had taken an extra swig out of his brandy bottle.
'Ooh, you better not ruin this with your at-ti-tude, Melly!' cried Theo as he hurtled down the gold enamel banister.
Melody smiled to herself. He didn't know that her life, their life was about to change for the better.
As the company made its way into the star-studded night and finally into the sleek new roadster, Elizabeth noticed a shooting star flash by in the sky.
'Quick, sweeties, make a wish!'
Melody closed her eyes. The wish came as naturally as breathing, for it was a wish she had been wishing for a lifetime.