My Grandmother's Garden

It was the beginning of summer. The garden smelled of fresh, sweet honey and fruits from the warm sun beating down on them. The carrots crunch at the sound of your first bite. Honestly, Lilyanna loved the garden. It was so warm and peaceful. Sometimes she would look up at the sky and see the trees shimmer with life from the sun. That’s when she noticed her first creature and called for her grandmother, Kathy.

“Grandma! I saw something. I saw it!” Lilyanna grabbed the hem of her skirt. Her grandmother leaned down and said, “Oh...And what did it look like, my child? Did it have wings that flutter in the light and sparkle like the sun?”

“Grandma…” Lilyanna said, making a grumpy face. She laughed as she grabbed Lilyanna’s hand. “What did it look like, my dear?”

“Well…I liked her hair. It was glossy and brown. I think it had a light color to it. She was tiny and sitting on one of the flowers. She also had a light green dress with flower patterns like mine.” Lilyanna explained as she lifted a part of her dress. 

“Oh, are you sure you didn’t see yourself?” Her grandmother asked with a grin. Lilyanna shook her head and led her grandmother to the spot where she had seen the creature. “You see it?” She pointed.

  “It’s a fairy, a child creature of light and nature.” Grandmother Kathy explained, “They help the plants grow strong, like the roots of the trees. Lilyanna, these creatures will watch over you if you are nice to them. Treat them with respect, and they will do the same. Understand?”

Lilyanna nodded and asked. “Grandmother, how do you know so much about this world?” Her grandmother smiled and bent down to whisper, “It is because I’ve seen many things in my lifetime, many good and bad moments. However, we are family. I promised to protect and guide you. I won’t always be here, and most people do not believe in what we see.”

Lilyanna stared into the birdbath water. She remembered her classmates teasing her about hearing whispers and being told she was too old for imaginary friends. They would put sticky notes on her back saying, “Kick the freak.” Even children she did not know would join, calling her grandmother the crazy neighborhood old witch. Even reliving those moments filled her mind with doubt. “Am I crazy?” she asked in a low whisper, not realizing even the wind could carry her words.

“Now…Why would you ask that, little one?” Her grandmother asked as Lilyana dipped her fingers into the water, scaring off the birds. She felt a familiar sense of loneliness and sadness wash over her. Lilyanna confessed, “Everyone calls you crazy. Even mommy went away because they didn’t believe her. The doctors said she just had a nervous breakdown…So if mommy is crazy, then I am right…?”

Grandmother Kathy looked down, pondering what she could say to lift her granddaughter’s frown. Just then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a butterfly landing on one of her flowers. This sparked an idea, remembering that even each fairy has unique gifts to call their own. “Would you like to go on an adventure with me?”

Lilyana tilted her head at her grandmother's suggestion. “Is it through the woods, or the garden this time?” She asked with a little bit of excitement in her voice. Lilyanna wished to explore the other parts of the garden rather than going back to the woods. She felt as though the garden held more secrets than the forest.

“Well, it's a surprise.” Grandmother Kathy grinned and held out her hand to Lilyana. Then guided her to a spot near the gates where the forest and the garden merged. “Wait…We're going in there! Your workshop, as you call it.” Lilyana explained. Grandmother Kathy smiled warmly, remembering what was really behind the door. “Not exactly, but tell me what you see once you walk through… Okay?”

Lilyanna nodded as she peeked into the room. She saw a normal dining area with a view overlooking the ocean, and part of grandmother’s greenhouse to the side. However, what surprised her were four creatures that all looked different from each other. They gathered around, looking at her while grandmother Kathy shut the door behind them. “Well…?” She heard her grandmother ask, but couldn’t find the words. Lilyanna moved close to the four creatures standing on top of the dining table. 

“Why do they look so different?” Lilyanna asked, forgetting she was supposed to tell her what she was seeing. Grandmother Kathy took a seat at the table. “What do you mean?” Lifting an eyebrow at her. “The four creatures…I guess the four fairies,” Lilyanna explained and corrected, noticing each one had wings similar to the one she saw earlier. “They all look different. One looks like they are made out of water. Another has sunflowers attached to her dress and hair. The one next to you has tiny animals surrounding her, and this one looks like the pile of falling leaves I jump into during fall.” Lilyanna pointed at the fall leaf fairy, accidentally knocking down the glass of lemonade. “Oh no.” The little water fairy cried while waving her hand to hold the liquid from splashing onto them.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…Wait, you can talk?” The water fairy giggled at Lilyana’s confusion and said, “Of course, we do. Among other things.” She winked as she moved the liquid back into a glass. “Now then, let me introduce you to the others and myself. My name is Fel, and just like you said, I am a water fairy. This is Heidi, the fall fairy. Michelle, the summer fairy, and our animal fairy, Debbie.” 

Lilyanna smiled, but felt awkward not understanding why. Soon, that feeling started to grow as she observed the interactions between the fairies and her grandmother. Lilyanna became quiet, almost speechless. “Are you alright?” She heard it from behind. Lilyanna turned around to see Debbie, the animal fairy, watching her.

“I’m…” She started to say, but couldn’t form the words. Debbie then held her hand and said, “ It’s alright. Are you confused about something?” Lilyanna nodded but then shook her head. The animal fairy tilted her head. “Are you confused about how you feel?” She asked.

Lilyanna started to cry, but she didn’t know why. They both stayed quiet while Lilyanna tried to calm herself down, then she nodded. “ I don’t know why I feel like I’m different here, too. Just like when I’m around the kids at school.” Lilyanna explained.

“What’s wrong with being different, my dear?” Fel, the water fairy, chimed in as everyone was now paying attention to Lilyanna’s conversation. “ I don’t know. Everyone besides my grandmother treats me like I’m a liar or that I’m a bad seed.” She said softly.

“A bad seed…? I’ve met some bad seeds who refused to grow up, but not because they were different. Why do you feel like you're different from them and us? Don’t we look similar to you humans?” Michelle, the summer fairy, asked, pointing to herself and Lilyanna. “Not exactly…You and Debbie are similar, but you each have different magic. I don’t have any of that. I see and speak to all of you, but the school kids don’t see or speak to any of you; that's why they see me as a liar.” Lilyanna continued to explain. “So I don’t fit in anywhere, do I?” She asked.

 Grandmother Kathy hugged Lilyanna, comforting her. “Oh, sweetie…I’m so sorry you feel that way. But you do fit in everywhere, because everyone, as you mention, is different with a purpose.” She smiled and asked Fel to grab the water orb. Lilyanna looked confused, then asked. “What do you mean by a purpose?”

“What do you think the water fairy's job is?” Heidi, the fall fairy, asked as she moved closer to Lilyanna. “To control water?” Lilyanna said, recalling what she had seen Fel do earlier. Heidi giggled. “That is true, but not quite right. You see, Fel forms water and controls it so everyone can have rivers, oceans, and rainfall to help life grow. Animals and plants need what to survive, and so do you. No one else but her and other fairies who have the same purpose can do this job.” She explained while Lilyanna tried to grasp what she was saying.

“So I have a job to do…? Is it similar to Grandmother's?” Lilyanna questioned, but still looked uncertain about what the fall fairy was saying. “I believe so. I help people who are in need, shower them with kindness and knowledge of the realm they do not see or believe in. I tend to guide people like our family, friends, and even strangers. If they don't listen, then oh well. I tried my best.” Lilyanna felt a sense of calm and happiness from Grandmother's explanation. “So that's my purpose then, to help those who don’t see become aware of what I see?” She asked, feeling hopeful that she had found the answer. 

“Sure, but I think you’ll find that there is always something else you have that not even you can see.” Her grandmother giggled as Fel returned with the water orb. “You know as well that everything isn’t what it seems. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there.” Fel said as she handed the orb over to Lilyanna.

As Lilyanna looked into the orb, she saw a little girl with wings like a butterfly and long flowing brown hair put up into a ponytail off to the side of her shoulder. “ Is this me?” She asked, amazed at what she was seeing. “ It is the you we all see, and one day maybe you will too.” Grandmother Kathy said as all the fairies smiled and nodded in agreement with her.

Over time, Lilyanna's doubts and fears of feeling different subsided, and she embraced her difference. Accepting herself with a purpose, never forgetting that her butterfly wings are there just because she can’t see them. 

The End.