Fira Windglow sat in her desk waiting for the teacher to dismiss the class for the last time of the season, and the last time of her life. Fira turned 18 this summer and she knew that this would be her last chance to act like a child before deciding a career. Both parents wanted her to work at their small apothecary shop but Fira wasn’t sure.

Her delicately thin fingers gently rapped on the top of her desk and she let out a soft sigh. She had been waiting for this day to end since the sun broke the morning mist and poured into her small bedroom window; it was the last day of school and the beginning of what would be the best summer of her life.

Fira brought her hand up to her chin and placed it in her palm and stared out of the window that faced the waterfall hidden deep within their enchanted forest. A gentle breeze danced its way in through the open window and caressed her face. She smiled and wondered if she had encouraged it to find her or if it was coincidence. Quickly her thoughts drifted to 10 summers ago…

“Come on Aura,” a tiny little voice calls out followed by an infectious giggle. “Hurry, the sun is setting and we are going to miss it!” Fira turned to look over her shoulder to see her best friend right on her tail. They both ran as quickly as they could, their destination the waterfall that was just on the outskirts of their little village.

Once the two girls reached the top of the cliff overlooking the pool that gathered at the bottom of the waterfall they found a soft patch of moss growing over a large bolder. Quickly they sat and watched as the sky burst into several shades of pinks, oranges and violets. Just as the sun began to disappear beyond the horizon, Fira reached over and took Aura‘s hand in hers. “You’re my best friend Aura,” she said with a warm smile upon her angelic face. “And you are my best friend Fira, forever.”

“Okay children, I guess the time has come for me to say…” the teacher said, pausing with a playful smile upon her lips, “… enjoy your summer and I’ll see you in the fall.”

The classroom burst into laughter and yells of excitement. Fira was brought back to reality and her body shook with joy as she stood from the wooden stool upon which she sat. The first thing on her mind was finding Aura.

Standing at attention, yet a bit on the relaxed side, Aura nodded in agreement with the multitude of words that were spilling out of her father’s mouth, creating more of a dull murmur within the walls of his study. “Yes… I understand.” She nodded again and again, “Yes sir, I get it.” Aura bit her tongue a bit as she absolutely detested these monthly reminders from her father, about her future ‘duties’ and ‘responsibilities’ and ‘what was expected of her’.

Her thoughts began to drift, as she was used to ‘The Speech’ as she had come to call it and she twinged a bit as she thought on her last moments of the night prior. She swore her skin was still on fire and the scent of her evening visitor still lingered around her. A small smile found her lips as she couldn’t help but wait to talk with Fira.

“Aura! Are we clear on this?!” her father’s booming voice, sliced clear through her thoughts and quickly brought her back to the afternoon hour. She gave a heartfelt sigh, letting him know that she was very aware of how much he simply wanted her to be prepared for life after 18. “Yes father, crystal. May I be excused now?” she gave him a small smile and headed for the door at his approval.

The afternoon breeze caught her lavender garments in it’s path and she loved the feel of the warm sun that peered its way through the fortress of leaves from their canopied city. School session should be ending shortly, and Aura wasted no time in dashing her lithe frame through the labyrinth of vined stairs and hidden passages. She needed to find Fira.

Fira rushed through the winding hallways of the school she had spent the last 15 years getting so used to roaming. The walls were draped with moss and wild vines crawling up to the vaulted ceilings where occasionally pixies would flutter around and sprinkle their dust upon those below, causing the passer-by to break out into an infectious laughter. Several times they were reprimanded by the Head Master for causing students to miss classes because they were “giggling their heads off”; not literally but they had to be sent to the medical ward to see the resident enchantress who would cast spells to stop the laughing. They were a riot to be around but could also be nasty little things if in a foul mood.

Fira couldn’t help but notice that the teachers had littered the vines with blossoms of all shapes and sizes in the school’s colors, pale green and yellow. Oberon School for Fairies was a wonderful place for young fairies to come learn and grow into respectable citizens of Beltaine. With a mischievous grin upon her lips, quickly she snatched a few blossoms and held them tight to her chest, their scent widening her grin as it brought thoughts of her secret love. Oh how she couldn’t wait for their next time alone.

“Aura, are you sure you have to go?” a small voice asked behind the streaming tears that were rolling down Fira’s tender face. They were 10 years old and Aura was leaving for an entire month to visit her grandmother in the city beyond the great ocean that separated their kingdoms.

“Yes,” she said, her own voice trembling from the emotion that too was staining her delicate cheeks, “but I’ll be back in 4 weeks.” The two friends held each other in a tight embrace and then Fira was left standing at the water’s edge holding tight to a small doll that belonged to Aura that she left for her to remember their friendship and long for her return.

The weeks passed quickly as Fira spent the time working at her parent’s shop. Each night she would tightly squeeze the doll and wish Aura sweet dreams, sending it on a gentle breeze hoping it would not falter in its quest to find her best friend.

“Fira!!!” Aura screamed as she came running down the wooden plank to the beach.

“Aura!!!” The girls fell over in laughter as they collided in a welcoming hug. “I’ve missed you so much!” Fira said between giggles. The walked off along the wooded path deep into the forest talking of all the adventures Aura had encountered while away and how each desperately missed the other.

As the sun hit Fira’s face when she breached the school’s doors her thoughts were brought back to reality. The school yard was filled with laughing children glad that the school year was over and summer was upon them. Another gentle breeze encompassed Fira causing her soft green gown to sway and her fire-red hair to fly from around her face. She giggled and made her way down the steps. In the distance she saw a familiar frame making its way towards the school and her emerald green eyes sparkled with excitement. Still after all these years as the closest of friends, the sight of Aura still kindled a warmth inside her like that of a child who was given a new toy.