Grace and Her Guardian

Streaks of midnight blue stretched across the sky above a quaint little farmhouse. The wind hugs the trees as the leaves release the sounds of peaceful rustling. White fabric soars through the breeze as a young woman walks across the field to a small two-story house. Her white nightgown flows around her, giving her an angelic appearance. The paint is chipped from the harsh heat, and the wood is fractured, regardless, the structure provides a sturdy home. The woman stops walking and drops to her knees. Her chocolate brown wavy hair effortlessly flows behind her as she tilts her head up to the sea of stars. Tears stream down her olive skin, she looks up and pleads to the sky.

"Please let my husband come home safely…please." Her brown eyes reflect the alabaster glow of the stars above, her hands collapsed together. She takes a deep breath before slowly rising to her feet, and continues her journey to the small house, the glowing yellow lights inside shine through the window, creating a light path for her to follow. A broken, dirty wind chime struggles to make noise as the wind coaxes a sad clunk of sound from the shards of the decoration. The woman pushes the door open as it creaks a meek "hello'. Every light in the home is on, despite the young woman being the only one there. The home is quaint with family pictures, hand-me-down china, and wooden furniture. The stairs moan, echoing her loneliness as she walks into her bedroom. The young woman slunks into bed under her covers as she sees her wedding picture above her chest of drawers. She breathes in deeply to control the sobs into sniffles when she hears the sound of wings fluttering. The young woman looks out of her open window from her bed, the floral curtains sway back and forth, but reveal a barn owl staring at her. She looks at the owl and chuckles, sniffling and wiping her tears away.

“Hi little one, what are you doing?” The owl lets out a slight squeak, trying to communicate with her.

“Are you talking to me, little one?” she smiles at the owl. The owl blinks and coos again at her as she laughs again.

“What is it, little one?” The owl spreads its ivory wings and gracefully flutters to the woman’s bed. She lets out a slight gasp as the owl sits at the foot of her bed staring at her.

“Did I invite you in?” she laughs, the owl blinks at her as she begins to giggle. The young woman lets out a sigh.

“You’re just too beautiful aren’t you? Do you always just let yourself into people’s houses?” The little owl begins hopping towards her. She slowly raises her hand to pet the owl, the owl moves its head towards her hand as she pets it. The young woman yawns as she pets the owl, her eyes slowly shut as her body sinks into the bed. Her hand falls from the owl as the owl turns its body and hops towards the foot of the bed, watching for anything that might disturb her peace.

The sun begins to slowly rise as the owl flutters to the window sill and flies away. Dawn continues to unravel for a few more hours before there is a car door that slams. The woman stretches and yawns as she covers her eyes from the sun. She sighs and blinks groggily so her eyes will accept the sun. From the bed, she can see her husband, covered in dirt from head to toe, walking with a bag of tools. She smiles and sighs in relief as she props herself up on the bed, her torso resting up against the honeyed wood headboard. Her right-hand brushes something soft, she turns her attention to a milky feather, so perfect she cradles it lightly in her hand. She rubs her fingers over the top of the delicate quill and brings it to her heart. She hugs the feather and kisses it before she leaps out of bed and stops at her chest of drawers. The chestnut box opens to show a detailed silver pendant and a sapphire ring. She lifts the material holding her jewelry to reveal a hidden compartment where she gently lays the feather, returning the material and the jewelry to the box. The sound of wings fluttering sails on the wind as the woman turns around to the window, but the owl isn't there. She smiles and shakes her head as the kitchen door opens with a creak.

“My love, I’m home.”