Ladybug
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.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThis 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!

Hi Voice Team, your website gives voice to all our stories. Thank you so much for this. To spread its voice, even imagination needs a physical or virtual place; with creativity as the only boundary.
An interesting story, Santina. It’s surprising sometimes where our inspiration comes from.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHi Carrie, thanks. This is so true. Usually we look for big events and huge things to happen in order to get inspired. But probably when we start to pay attention to little things such as a tiny fly, or a butterfly, or a ladybug, then we realize they have great voices and wonderful stories to tell.
Yes, I enjoy photography insects. They can be great inspiration for beasties in an alien or fantasy world.
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.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHi Eric, thank you so much for this nice feedback. Yes, we should never stop using imagination; it both reveals and creates the world.
Santina, this was so beautifully told. I might look differently at insects from now on!
Thank you Marianna! Oh yes, they have wonderful stories to tell 🙂 . As all little things do.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GooglePeople 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.
Thanks Genya for the lovely comment. Yes, I think the same; I am a huge supporter of small and simple things. Ladybirds, yes, I know this name as well. In my language, Italian, we name it Coccinella 🙂
Very fascinating and inspiring. Even the simple and small things can inspire. Thank you for sharing this story with us.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHi Lotchie, thanks. Yes, under a little spot of ink an entire world can be hidden.Sometimes we are afraid to dive into it… but once we face fear, and we dive… we see! Thanks again for your comment, Lotchie.
Yes, you are right. Congratulations on your win, Santina.
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!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHi Fuji, I still remember your Little Blue Chef ? . I beleive he is cooking now. How is he doing? Take care of him, Fuji. Thanks again for your story, and for your comment as well.
Well done Santina and congratulations! This was a lovely piece of imaginative writing.
Hi Eric; a bit of messy imagination, jumping from ink to lakes made of mirrors ? . Definitely a learning opportunity for me. Trying to do my best to express my feelings in a language different then mine ? . Thank you for your comment, Eric.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleYour story is itself an image composed from a multiplicity of images. The literal descriptions are vivid and charming and fill the heart with lyricism.
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.
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