The Next Day
It was the day after Christmas. The house was still, quiet after days of family and laughter over grand feasts and childish shrieks of delight over brightly colored packages topped with silver and gold bows.
The Christmas tree glimmered in the early morning light, peaceful and bare from its shroud of gifts. Stepping out onto the porch, I watched the breath cloud before my lips. The sun was barely peeking over the edge of the dark trees, the stars still whispering their final farewell.
Bending down, I touched my pale fingers to the lip of a icy rose.
“Gorgeous, isn’t it?”
I smiled as I felt the familiar soft brush against my cheek. “Isn’t it a bit cold for you out here?”
“I’m not the one in pajamas,” the butterfly reminded me, nestling into my shoulder. His wings opened and folded. “Did you have a good Christmas?”
I smiled. “Yes. Did you?”
“Always,” the butterfly replied breezily, as if I had asked him if he enjoyed lunch.
“What do butterflies do for Christmas?” I asked, tucking my fingers inside my sleeves to warm them.
“Lots of things,” the butterfly answered. “We float, we flutter, we fly, we glide…we leap, we twirl, we coast in the cool breeze. We drink from flowers and spin on icy leaves.”
“Isn’t that what you do all winter?” I asked.
“Yes, but on Christmas it’s different,” the butterfly replied. “At Christmas, there’s a magic in the air, a frivolity in one’s step that only comes once a year.”
I nodded, not completely understanding.
“Another Christmas, another year,” the butterfly whispered, as though he could read my thoughts. “Where will you go? What shall you do?”
I bit my lip. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “I have ideas, but I don’t know if they’re good ones. They’re not conventional. They’re not expected.”
“Then you should do them immediately,” the butterfly replied. “Before you lose your nerve.”
“I don’t know anything about them, really,” I murmured. “I know a bit, but it would be such a big change. I just, I don’t know. I want to do something different. I don’t want to go down the same path, do the same thing. I’m ready for a change…”
“…but you fear change,” the butterfly answered. “You fear rejection. You fear ridicule.”
I nodded.
“Isn’t it better to take a chance and be excited than to just plug along, playing it safe?” the butterfly asked. “Every time you make a big change, you like it.”
“I do,” I admitted. “I kept saying until after Christmas…and now it’s after Christmas.”
“It’s time,” the butterfly whispered, his wings brushing my cheeks.
“Indeed,” I whispered, the fear rushing through me.
Together, we stepped out into the icy garden and faced the new morning.
Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! Next week we have more whimsical fun–New Year’s Resolutions, recipes, stories and more!
December 26th, 2009 at 7:12 am
This is lovely. Enjoy the weekend
December 26th, 2009 at 9:20 am
This is so sweet! Yes, it’s sad the dying of the old year, but so much to look forward in the New Year!
Hope you are having a great Holiday!
Big Hugs.
December 26th, 2009 at 10:52 am
It’s so nice Together, we stepped out into the icy garden and faced the new morning.
Happy Holiday!
December 26th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Gorgeous, darling!
xoxox,
CC
December 26th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Aw, love this one Miss Duck, it is simply perfect. (Butterflies are smarter than we sometimes give them credit for, and this one was clearly more-than-wise.)
Hope your Christmas was as cool as you are!
tp
December 26th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
I love that one! I hope that this means you are trying something new that you have wanted to do.
Merry Christmas!
December 26th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
…Spread your wings and fly…
December 26th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
I love the way you have captured the fear and thrill of facing change!
December 27th, 2009 at 2:25 am
Hehe yes change is good though! Don’t be frightened Duckie!
December 27th, 2009 at 4:37 am
A new year, a new idea, a new direction. Not really resolutions, but something better. Go for it Duck!
December 27th, 2009 at 7:15 am
This is beautiful, Duckie! I hope you and yours had a very Merry Christmas!
December 27th, 2009 at 8:04 am
very cute
I hope your Christmas was wonderful!
December 27th, 2009 at 8:41 am
this is interesting!! 1nde again happy holidays!!
December 27th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Oh, I so adore the whimsy of this post.
Hope you had a wonderful holiday, darling!!
December 27th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Very sweet. Looking forward to the resolutions!
December 27th, 2009 at 10:43 am
I had a good quiet (maybe too quiet!) Christmas in town.
I hope you had a very serene and joyful Christmas!
December 27th, 2009 at 10:47 am
“Isn’t it better to take a chance and be excited than to just plug along, playing it safe?” is great advice!
I’ll remind myself of it.
December 27th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Love it! I’m so looking forward to the coming year, and to more reading and visiting over here!! Happy Holidays!
December 27th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Ciao ! I wish you a very very happy new year !!! Baci !
December 27th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Cute little story, Duckie! Go chase that dream so it won’t elude you! Hugs and big doggie slobbers from waaayyy north of you!
December 27th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
I want a butterfly friend-advisor! Where do I get one?
December 28th, 2009 at 3:44 am
Oh, I love it when your insects talk. I miss the gnat! He hasn’t been about in a while!! xxoo
December 28th, 2009 at 9:08 am
I love your butterfly conversations!
December 28th, 2009 at 9:27 am
Love the butterfly stories.
December 29th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
You are so descriptive. You make a person want to move on to the next page and the next and the next…
December 30th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
You have such a gift with words, I can’t wait to find out what exciting things you’re going to do next!
December 30th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
I love butterfly visits and these little glimpses into your heart. I wish you all the best in all that you do!