A noise woke me up.

Unlike the usual whine, this was a buzzing.

I got up and bumped into my unfinished book. I reached for the window.

The summer air was fresh. In the moonlight an insect flew around. ‘A ladybug at night?’ I thought. It slipped under my hand. It felt watery when I drowned into one of its spots, as black and round as inky lakes.

I was swimming in dark waters; its drops were little mirrors showing a young lady in a red cloak with black buttons. She was bringing chocolates to dozens of children. They were playing happily. Only one child did not play; he was hiding behind an apple tree, where I left him in my unfinished book.

“Why are you sad, my child?” The young lady asked.

“My shoes are broken, I can’t run and play,” the child said. He was about to weep, and I recognized the whine. “My mom is poor; she can’t buy new shoes for me,” he continued.

The young lady wrapped the child under her red cloak until the black buttons filled with his tears. The wind shook the leaves and from above the apple tree something fell down landing on the grass.

Red and black as he had always wished, his new shoes jumped on his feet. He could run and play, finally.

The dark waters kept on mirroring the young lady’s tales: she collected misfortunate children’s tears, turning their miseries into happiness. Until the black buttons on her red cloak grew as deep as inky lakes.

Ink spilling on white pages inspiring tales.

That buzzing again. I was in my bed. A shadow of a lady was dancing in the bedroom until it turned into a ladybug. It landed on my unfinished book.

I opened it.

I had enough ink to move the child from behind the apple tree.

    4.3 7 votes
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    Voice-Team
    Voice-Team(@voice-team)
    Admin
    2 years ago

    This story was full of wonderful descriptions: “drowned into one of its spots”; “as black and round as inky lakes”; “black buttons filled with his tears”.  Also, we had to reread the story in order to fully absorb the last line, which really made us stop and think. A true celebration of the imagination!

    Carrie OLeary
    Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
    2 years ago

    An interesting story, Santina. It’s surprising sometimes where our inspiration comes from.

    Carrie OLeary
    Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
    Reply to  Santina Forlenza
    2 years ago

    Yes, I enjoy photography insects. They can be great inspiration for beasties in an alien or fantasy world.

    Eric Radcliffe
    Eric Radcliffe(@eric-radcliffe)
    2 years ago

    Wow! Imagination at its best Santina, and you just went where it took you. That is the place where dreams begin, everything is possible, and where Inspiration lives in stories like this. I loved it.

    Last edited 2 years ago by Eric Radcliffe
    Marianna Pieterse
    Marianna Pieterse(@marianna-pieterse)
    2 years ago

    Santina, this was so beautifully told. I might look differently at insects from now on!

    Genya Johnson
    Genya Johnson(@genya-johnson)
    2 years ago

    People get inspiration from so many things. Famous people, famous places. Some so huge they fill the newspapers and media. Yet sometimes the smallest things can be so inspirational. You captured so much of this in your story. A ladybug. Or as I call them ladybirds. Beautiful.

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    2 years ago

    Very fascinating and inspiring. Even the simple and small things can inspire. Thank you for sharing this story with us.

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    Reply to  Santina Forlenza
    2 years ago

    Yes, you are right. Congratulations on your win, Santina.

    Fuji
    Fuji(@fuji)
    2 years ago

    I am so glad to see your story in the winners box, Santina. I love this story – so imaginative, and such brilliant word plays. Congratulations!

    Eric Radcliffe
    Eric Radcliffe(@eric-radcliffe)
    2 years ago

    Well done Santina and congratulations! This was a lovely piece of imaginative writing.

    Dipayan Chakrabarti
    Dipayan Chakrabarti(@dipayan-chakrabarti)
    2 years ago

    Your story is itself an image composed from a multiplicity of images. The literal descriptions are vivid and charming and fill the heart with lyricism.

    Katerina Bizirtsaki
    Katerina Bizirtsaki(@katerina-bizirtsaki)
    2 years ago

    It’s interesting to see through various detailed descriptions where you believe inspiration comes from. It really makes you think you can be inspired by everything if you’re open to the possibility.

    Chris
    Chris(@chris)
    1 year ago

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