Response to Prompt 27: Colors, on the Tammy Drabbles site.
Across the pale blue sky, a rainbow quietly streaked across the sky, shining like a haven from the storm. A young girl of nine, Iris of Queenscove, grinned and pointed. "Look!" she pulled on her twelve-year-old brother's tunic to get his attention and ran to the large window. Neal turned to his younger sister, Iris, and crossed his arms over his chest, leaning against the doorframe. "It's only a rainbow."
Iris scowled, "Why are you always so serious?" she asked.
Neal only shrugged.
"You have to appreciate the small things in life too, Neal!"
Neal sighed, "I do! Just…" he trailed off, rolled his eyes, and left. His sister was just too wild for him sometimes, always running outside in the rain waiting for the rainbow…
Iris sighed and leaned against the window, watching the sky.
Only a rainbow…
Four years later…Thirteen-year-old Iris of Queenscove sighed as a storm raged up ahead. The thunder crashed and the lightning split the sky in a flash of blue light. She closed her eyes and imagined the clouds parting to reveal the most beautiful thing after the storm: The sun and, with it, a rainbow.
She had been at the convent for nearly four years now and she hated it. The constant lessons, the studying…why couldn't she just be free?
Placing her embroidery in the basket beside her, she stood and got ready for the ball that was tonight. Choosing a plain pastel-colored gown, she dressed, and looked at herself in the mirror. An almost-mournful expression crossed her face, "I've changed from who I used to be," she murmured. "I'm not myself anymore."
The ball was a mass of color and light, yet Iris didn't see anything grand about it: Only the regular swooning and flirting of gossiping ladies, and the usual handsome noblemen, music and dancing and the banquet.
Iris wanted to get outside, needed some fresh air but instead she chose a chair close to a window. Bowing her head, she let a tear slip down her cheek and hastily wiped it away. The storm still raged above and Iris felt as if it fueled her need for fresh air.
Feeling a warm hand on her shoulder, she looked up to see her brother looking down on her. "Why so sad?" he asked.
"I've changed, Neal and I hate it! You won't understand." She whispered.
"C'mon, let me show you something you might like." He offered his hand and led Iris outside to the storm.
"It's only a storm, Neal." Iris grumbled.
"You just wait, sis. It'll come."
Suddenly the sun burst through the clouds and a bright rainbow cascaded along the clouds, brighter then one she'd ever seen. Her expression didn't change, "It's only a rainbow." She murmured, turning her eyes to him.
Neal ran a hand through his hair and sighed, "Someone once told me, years ago, that you've got to appreciate the small things in life and I didn't listen then but I do now."
"Who told you that crazy notion?" Iris replied.
Neal tweaked her nose, a grin spreading over his face. "Oh, just someone I know…"
"Who told you?" she cried.
"You did." Neal then laughed at her bewildered expression.