Kiki's image
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own Hayao Miyazaki's charismatic Kiki
It came. It went. In they go. Out they go. The waves breaking on the shore mirrored Kiki's thoughts. She had placed herself exactly in line with the sun over the horizon. It was her town, her perfect microcosm of idyllic beauty. Even Jiji was impressed with Kiki's devotion to the town. In her mind, Kiki placed the events that had dictated the way she lived her life in the past year. Only when she was thirteen she was uprooted from her comfort zone and flown into a strange town. Gradually, like a gentle incoming tide caressing the sand, she had become one of the town. Her friendship with Ursula had highlighted her personal discovery. Perhaps she was sitting on the rock because she had lost her powers, only this time, the frantic actions of before had been swept away and perhaps, by gazing into the sea, she would find her inspiration.
Kiki began to wonder what the other people really thought of her. When she arrived, as Jiji timely reminded her, she had not made a good impression, flying into a busy crowd was not a great start. But perhaps, if people managed to forget the past and accept the way people are, then maybe her dress wouldn't matter. She had been very conscious about her dark blue dress, it was her only one. Once, she had been snubbed by some of those rich kids in the town. Why couldn't she have one of those nice dresses? She remembered what Ursula had told her:
"You're a witch Kiki, everyone is different, you just have to accept who you are. You see, Kiki, when you grow up, you see that really people don't care about physical appearance. Perhaps it's hard for you to understand this now, but people care about what's inside Kiki. And just remember, you're a wonderful witch. People love you, the delivery girl, the best helper in the town. They don't care about what you happen to be wearing. Just remember, It's you, not your clothes".
Kiki ran through Ursula's thoughts in her head. It made sense now. The coarse surface that had grazed the tide coming in had been washed away. Kiki's thoughts had been cleaned by Ursula's image. She got up, brushed herself, smiled gleefully and set out for the road.