Day 6: Candles, Lanterns, Fairy Lights

Light Our Way

Crystal had never been the wealthiest child. Her attire only consisted of hand-me-downs from her sister or bargain bin ensembles. Shopping for herself had also been a rarity. Her mother simply chose what she would wear, only listening when Crystal meekly asked for legwarmers or scrunchies on a good day.

But as an intern, her dorm room was her own. It was a space that she could decorate without criticism. While she had been able to spruce up her bedroom with motivational posters and other trinkets, they often earned comments from her mother whenever she spotted something she disliked. Each remark was like a drill to Crystal's heart, and she replaced its bandage daily.

Still, she set aside those memories. Unlike most interns, she had been given a single dorm. It was all thanks to the recommendation of her mentor, Coach Oleander. She couldn't have thanked him more if she tried. And while much smaller than the average dorm, it was perfectly feasible for her to accessorize how she wanted it. She imagined herself painting the walls a pastel pink, or perhaps a sky blue, or even a brilliant green, but she chuckled, knowing that it wasn't possible. The walls were meant to stay the same eggshell white color, but the rest of the room was her oyster.

She had a box of her belongings from home on the carpet. She was staying at the Motherlobe for the entire summer, a thought that thrilled her. As much as she loved her parents, she was able to live on her own without them breathing down her neck. And she planned on making her first summer as a proud intern the best it could be, knowing a positive room was the start of a positive lifestyle.

The room had typical furnishings. A bed pressing against the left wall, a simple table and a chair, a dresser, and a cabinet, all made of metal filled the space. She had a single window that gave her a pleasant view of the Quarry and ample sunshine filtering in through the plastic blinds.

She pumped her fists up, ready to get to work. Crouching by the box, her suitcase filled with her clothes unopened on the bed, she dug through what little she brought with her. Her parents had expected her to focus on her assignments, her mother especially particular with what she carried with her.

"No distractions," she had said, "or else, you might as well come home and get a job as a waitress."

The stern voice nipped at the back of her mind. Shaking her head, Crystal tried to concentrate on the task at hand. Her eye caught a bonsai tree, and she couldn't help but let out a short, delighted coo. Grabbing it, she skipped to the table, setting it square in the center. The deep green leaves and red ceramic pot brought needed pops of color against the tan table.

She raised her hand, curling her fingers inward. She was lifting out whatever her telekinetic fingers pinched from the box. She fidgeted around for a moment, poking what she believed were framed photographs. When she felt something like a string, she pulled it up and tossed it into her open palms.

A knock on the door distracted her. It opened when she called for them to enter. Clem, already hitting his growth spurt, smiled at her. He stood in the doorway, his attire much darker than the gym shorts and sports tees he wore as a child.

"Settling in alright?" he asked, stepping inside.

"Yep! Check it out." Crystal dangled the fairy lights. The small bulbs were shaped like teardrops. She had managed to coil them in a tight ball and hide them from her overly observant mother underneath a scrapbook. "Can you help me put them up? I was thinking they'd look nice on the window."

Clem shuffled over and took one end. He looped around the top blind, letting the bulbs fall. Crystal loosened her grip, watching as Clem draped the fairy lights across her window, covering the top blind. He fidgeted with the roller, letting the blinds open and close without obstructing the fairy lights.

She scampered over to the door and quickly shut it. Flipping the light switch off, she grinned as the fairy lights activated. Warm white light sparkled. They twinkled, giving off differing hues, before going through a rotation of color. From yellow to pink to blue and back to white, they slowly ebbed, and as she approached, the light bouncing off her clothing, she clapped her hands, giggling.

"Oh, they're perfect! I'm so glad the wires didn't get ruined in my box!" she squealed, beaming up at Clem.

A teal light reflected off his face. It enhanced the dark circles under both of their eyes. "Same here. It really does wonders for this room. The Psychonauts don't know home decor like you do, Crystal."

"Thanks! Hey, what about your dorm? Do you have anything set up yet?"

He paused, letting out a quiet hum. "Oh, uh, well, I didn't have much of a chance to bring a lot of…personal items. You know how my dad is when I touch anything." His mouth twisted into a sharp grin when her shoulders sagged. "But Hollis said I can raid the lost and found and take items that have been there for over a month! There's this cool radio still there. Then, I won't be stuck with the voices in my head! Haha!"

His response was a sharp jab at himself. It was automatic. Self-inflicted cruelty pursued him to the Motherlobe from Whispering Rock. Both bristled, Clem chewing on his lip and Crystal's expression falling. The fairy lights shined on them, exposing their still shabby appearances, both worn down by parents and peers alike.

But Crystal smiled. She took his hand and guided him to her box. They crouched, Clem watching her. Reaching inside, she retrieved a second set of fairy lights. He tried protesting, but she forced them into his hand.

"We'll put them up in your dorm," she promised. "I'm sure your roommate won't mind."

Clem puffed out a chuckle. "I haven't met him yet. He's from another camp and hasn't shown up for orientation. If he's a meathead, I might be in trouble."

"I'm sure he will. If you two were put together, then he must be a kind soul like you."

"Crystal…"

Their hands found each other in the dim lighting. As the white glow illuminated them, Crystal leaned into him. They shared a moment, a quiet one of several familiar instants. For the summer, protected by the Psychonauts, they sprinted from their homes and the venom that resided in the bite of their parents.

Their arms shifted around each other. They squeezed like their lives depended on it. She breathed in his scent, colored markers and cedar. And all was right.

He whispered, "Do you wanna finish putting up your stuff? We don't have to go."

"It's okay, Clem. I wanna match with you right away."

At her honesty, he shifted, pulling her up with him. His gaze caught the bonsai tree. "Nice plant. I gotta get one of those. Maybe there's one in the lost and found."

She brightened, fingers bouncing together. "Oh! I've been recently talking with Lili. She said she'll hook me up with another one if I treat mine well! I'm sure she'll do it for you, too!"

He seemed skeptical but allowed a hint of a smile on his face. "Well, alright. I've been meaning to chat with her, if she'll bother talking to me."

"I'm sure she'll love to catch up!"

"Mm, yeah. Maybe she will. It'd do me some good, too."

And at Clem's nod, Crystal took his hand, the fairy lights illuminating their exit.