It's been a long time, I know. This is a short one. It just came to me today and I had to write it down.

Preface: Sometimes the "darkness" of our lives doesn't happen in the night. Sometimes, the "darkness" happens in the day, under a bright sun, or while we are locked behind closed doors. We all have bad days, even Lady Jaye. Sometimes, though, we just need to look up...and breathe.

Chapter Title: A Thing With Feathers (from Emily Dickinson's poem, Hope)

"Close your eyes."

"What?"

"Just do it," Flint urged.

"Fine." Lady Jaye sighed and closed her eyes.

"Now," he said eagerly. "Take a deep breath. Do you smell it?"

Lady Jaye's eyes opened a crack and she frowned at him. "Smell what?"

Flint spread his arms wide and turned in a tight circle. "Here. There. Everywhere." Then, coming to face her, once more, he stopped. "It's life," he said excitedly.

"Life?" Crossing her arms, she tilted her head to the side. Her brow furrowed skeptically.

"Yes. Life, Lady Jaye."

She continued to stare at him, still doubtful.

"Just try it," he laughed. "Breathe."

She uncrossed her arms and sighed. "Life, huh?" She said the word again, testing it, letting it wrap around her tongue. Then, tilting her head back slowly, she gazed upwards, until she felt the sun's warmth full on her face. She breathed in deeply, just as he had said. Instantly, earth, tree, and fauna rushed into her, filling her lungs. A tingling warmth passed through her and she trembled—deeply touched.

"Life," she stammered, awestruck. "Yeah."

He laughed softly again, pleased. "And it's all here. Just for us," he said.

In all truthfulness, life had not been kind lately, nor had the future offered anything better. Lady Jaye looked down and kicked at a stone. Her throat tightened and her vision swam. She needed it so badly. Hope. "Really?" she whispered.

"Really," he said. "Cross my heart." Reaching out, he took her hand and tugged. "Come on," he invited. "Let's go and see it."

Swallowing hard, she nodded and let him lead her. She couldn't speak another word. She simply breathed, in and out, out and in, letting the world fill her. Hand in hand, they walked forward in silence, toward the trees and into the mystery. Leaves overhead uncurled as they passed, revealing their intricately laced palms. The broken twigs and fallen leaves of the year before crunched beneath their feet. The sweetness of new season's blossoms perfumed the air with tomorrow. Other fragrances mixed with it. No sound or smell was out of place, or unbalanced. All fit together perfectly: the past, the present and the future. Even her heart, beating rapidly in her chest, felt connected, as if it were one with the beating heart of the entire world. It was life, swirling around them and in them and through them. And, she was filled.

She turned toward her partner and best friend and smiled. "Thank you for bringing me here, Flint."

"My pleasure, Lady Jaye."