Fresh snow has fallen over Destiny City for the third time this week; most people seem to have stayed inside today due to a particularly heavy flurry, but you find yourself outside tonight for some reason. The weather has faded, revealing a sparkling night sky. Much of the ground is covered in a crisp layer of snow--but more than that, beautiful flowers in the shape of snowflakes have sprouted in the ground. They grow in small patches and permeate a pleasant, sweet fragrance. If the flowers are not kept in freezing temperatures, they melt, but fur the duration of their lifespan they are beautiful, fragile things. In such a busy metropolis, isn't it nice to take a moment to take a moment and appreciate nature? Even if there does seem to be something a little magical about this?
Dani was out late tonight. She wasn’t supposed to be out, but she was. She was tired of this ‘Grams’, who hadn’t been to see them in years, because of something her older brother, Drew supposedly caused, so totally upset, when his twin, his other half, Dria, vanished. Dani understood that Grams lost Granpa that night, and that Granpa was her other half. But it had been four years. Grams didn’t need to refuse to see the family for four years, and then say she would come but only come if Drew was banished from the house for the week that she was there, and then talk bad about him the whole time. Dani wasn’t con-don-ing (that was a big word) all the stuff that Drew had done, and who knows if Drew’s fit, that he threw when the officer said that there was little chance of finding her (honestly, if it had been her twin, Dani might have thrown a tantrum too), had actually been the cause of Granpa’s death. Sure, she missed Granpa, but Drew had changed, and Grams needed to realize that, she thought, as she fought through the snow flurry that pounded at her face.
The flurries were actually much less now, than earlier, and it was a little safer to be out. Otherwise, she would still be cooped up with Grams. In fact, in just moment the flurries vanished completely, leaving a sparkling night sky. She looked out and around it, wondering where her homeworld of Leaena was, or if it still existed. As she did, one of the dimmer stars of Leo Minor, shone just a little brighter momentarily, as if in answer to her silent call. She closed her eyes and inhaled, and when she did, she smell a bitterly cold yet utterly pleasant aroma. She opened her eyes and found, blossoming around her magical snowflake flowers. They were pleasing to the sight and reminded Dani that Christmas was not the time to get angry with Grams, or she too would be like Grams, a bitter old woman who had forgotten the meanings of Christmas, forgiveness, peace, love and family. For like these flowers (they seemed to melt away when she tried to touch them too roughly) Christmas and family fall apart when treated too roughly. She knew what she must do; she could not stay here in the peace and tranquil of these flowerbeds. No not while her family was in pieces at Christmas. If she was correct, Drew would be at his college friends this Christmas. Great, he could come too, he too was part of the family.
Oh and she mustn’t forget her partner and her father. Her friend and partner were family too, and she couldn’t ask her without her father, or her cat. And there was that cat that came around often, he had to come too. Now that they had all been invited, she had to talk to Grams, that she had to do alone. And as a ten-year-old that would be hard. It had to both firm and gentle. Let her know that she understood her feelings, her pain, her anger, but at the same time, let her know what she was doing – breaking the family apart and on Christmas; that was wrong. Somehow, she had the courage to do it.