Gainsay

The stars rose overhead in a formation that foretold disaster. Lucy's smile said she didn't care. She rode her bike to the edge of the lake and waited for the fairy to come.

Lucy sat there for hours, shivering in the cool night air. She huddled between two shrubs for a while to protect to herself from the wind, but then she worried the fairy wouldn't see her, and she forced herself to bear the chill again.

When the fairy finally did show up, she was covered in blood and her wings were in tatters. Lucy cradled the poor injured creature in the palm of her hands, and with large teary eyes asked what happened.

"I'm going to leave you tonight." The fairy struggled with every word. "But I want you to remember what I taught you. Don't ever let this world change your mind."

Lucy nodded and cried and carried the fairy to the lake. Wistfully she lay the fairy on a large palm leaf and let her float away. She watched until she couldn't see her friend anymore.

This world wouldn't change her mind, but it couldn't satisfy her heart.