Page 18 of Firefly

“Out.”

Rebecca reached over the edge of Sarah’s crib, lifting her out. Sarah was growing quickly, and Rebecca half expected her to be a grown woman the next time she checked.

“Do you want to see the flowers, my sweet?”

“Butterflies,” Sarah said dreamily, making Rebecca smile.

“A wonderful idea!”

Sarah wriggled in Rebecca’s arms and she set her down, laughing as the girl moved to the closet to find her shoes.

“We will need to move your clothes to your room soon. My closet is bursting with all your things,” she teased.

Sarah threw the closet door open to inspect all her fine things. She would never thank her father even if he did support them, but she feared his growing generosity spoke of some new expectation he would level on them soon.

Rebecca pulled a light coat from its hanger and grabbed a jacket for Sarah. It was not yet fall, but the evenings were growing cool, and she wanted to soak up the fresh air for as long as possible before she was forced to return to the bedroom she would one day be permanently confined to.

Hand in hand, they strolled through the orchard, stopping at the fence. Sarah tipped her head back, staring all the way up the fence and at the gargoyles perched atop it before falling onto her bottom and giggling.

She spread her hands wide and blinked large blue eyes at her mother.

“Go ahead, you’re safe out here.” Sarah’s small cheeks ballooned as she grinned widely, and butterflies erupted from her palms. They danced overhead, flitting between tree branches, and Rebecca watched as one landed on a leaf.

“That’s very good, Sarah. Can you make anything else?”

Sarah wrinkled her nose, cupping her hands together; she bit her lip and squeezed. When she opened them, a tiny bug emerged, flying into the air.

“That’s interesting,” Rebecca said as the insect buzzed over their heads. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask what sort of bug it was when a soft yellow light flashed between its wings. “Is it a firefly?”

Sarah nodded enthusiastically, and Rebecca picked her up, swinging her in a circle. “Brilliant!”

They laughed together as Sarah made dozens more, releasing them into the air. Like her newest butterflies, they didn’t burst when they touched other objects, and Rebecca wondered what else a person with that sort of magic might be capable of.

The afternoon stretched into twilight as Sarah ran between trees with Rebecca chasing after her, giving her kisses every time she caught her.

Alice brought their yellow blanket with two bowls of stew and they ate under the stars, wrapping their coats tightly around themselves.

“Your fireflies would be pretty at night, don’t you think?” Rebecca asked as Sarah yawned loudly.

“Your turn, Mama,” she said, yawning again.

Rebecca bit her lip. She’d never tried illusory magic before. She cupped her hands. “Like this?”

Sarah nodded.

“And I just imagine what I want to appear?”

Sarah wrapped her hands over Rebecca’s.

“Fireflies,” she whispered, and Rebecca said it with her.

She opened her hands and dozens of tiny bugs darted into the sky, blinking as they lit up the night. She leaned back, staring in wonder.

“Beautiful,” a voice said, startling her.

“Simon!” Sarah squealed, running for him.

He caught her, scooping her up and kissing her cheek. “I brought you a present,” he said to Sarah, and she beamed. “Hold out your hands and close your eyes.”

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