#aileta

Return to the past now!

Aileta stirred as a crack of light entered her dark bedroom.  She sat up, long silver draped over her pillow.  "Mmm Nightshine?  What's wrong honey?" The tiny 7 year old Nightengale stood in the doorway, hanging onto the handle.  ~I had a bad dream...about daddy again...~

The demoness sighed and gave a comforting smile, climbing out of the bed and walking over to Night, picking her up and carrying her back to her room.  

She placed the little girl carefully back in bed tucking her in.  "It'll be alright Nightshine...Daddy is watching over both of us...and when we sleep we get the opportunity to see her again."

Night's big red eyes looked up at her mother, scared to go back to sleep.  ~But mommy, what if I get that dream again?~

Aileta smiled softly, brushing a lock of white hair from Night's forehead.  "That's why you have to think happy thoughts before you sleep.  Remember the fun things we all used to do together. "

Night thought for a moment and remembered the end of summer 2 years before, surrounded by dozens of glittering lightening bugs.  She climbed on Vanessa's shoulders and they chased the glowing creatures trying to catch him.  ~Like catching fireflies?~

"Yes that's a very good memory..."  Aileta began humming and soon started to sing to her little Nightshine.  "You would not believe your eyes if ten million fireflies lit up the world as I fell asleep.  Cuz they fill the open air and leave tear drops everywhere.  You'd think me rude but I would just stand and stare."

Night looked up at Aileta listening intently to the lullaby. 

"I'd like to make myself believe that planet earth turns slowly.  It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep cuz everything is never as it seems."

Aileta gave Night's tummy a tickle causing the girl to silently giggle.  "Cuz I get a thousand hugs from ten thousand lightening bugs as they try to teach me out to dance."  Aileta stood up from the bed starting to sway across the room.  "A foxtrot above my head, a sock hop beneath my bed, the disco ball is just hanging by a thread."

Night smiled and closed her eyes imagining everything.  In her head she was surrounded by more fireflies then she had ever seen in her life.  She started to run through the clouds of glowing bugs, dancing about.  She accidentally backed into someone and turned around, gasping at who it was.  Vanessa smiled down at her and brought her into a tight hug.

Aileta came up behind the two, placing her hand on Vanessa's shoulder.  "Leave my door open just a crack...cuz I feel like such an insomniac...why do I tire of counting sheep...when I'm far too tired to fall asleep."

Vanessa placed Night on her shoulders, prancing through the fields of fireflies, leaving Aileta to smile sadly. "To ten million fireflies, I'm weird cuz I hate goodbyes.  I got misty eyes as they said farewell."  Vanessa came back with Night, bringing her down into her arms and cradling her gently, Aileta resting her head on Vanessa's shoulder.  "But I know where several are if my dreams get real bizarre cuz I saved a few and I keep them in a jar."

Back in reality, the sounds of Night's quiet snoring reached Aileta's ears and she leaned over to kiss her daughter on the forehead, walking towards the door.  She paused at the sight of a framed picture on Night's dresser, a family portrait with the three of them smiling and happy.  She traced her fingers over Vanessa's face, feeling herself tear up a bit.