.Fairy Kiss.

The construction of the new mansion was to begin the next day—but Leon wanted to be ahead of schedule. This twenty-five year old was well on his way to becoming a businessman, were it not for his quick temper and bad mouth.

“What are you doing?” He stressed, pushing sunshine hued hair from his ocean view eyes. His lean body shoved through the mass of workers as he cursed inaudibly to himself, “Get up and get to work!”

“We don’t start until—”

“We start today.” Leon emphasized.

The worker was not afraid. He towered over Leon, giving him a hard look, “We weren’t contracted for this.”

Leon angrily strode into the forest he was supposed to clear tomorrow. Whenever his temper got the better of him, he needed to walk it off just to calm down. It wasn’t long until he noticed he had no idea where he was.

He looked ahead: trees. To the west; trees. To the east; trees. South; more trees. He attempted to prove to himself that he was not lost. He couldn’t be lost, he was Leon Jonovich. He chose to walk back the way he had come.

Rabbits wildly ran across a path that seemed to disappear before his eyes. The trees swayed, making the illusion of rain. Nature flourished from every corner, from the moss to the looming trees pretending to be skyscrapers—looking up at them he felt faint—he propped up against the trunk of a birch tree.

Glancing ahead, something caught his eye: a slight glimmer near the undergrowth. He rubbed his eyes and the silhouette of a woman figure emerged from the darkness. Believing it to be someone whose come to his rescue, he opened his mouth to shout. But when she came closer, he came face to face with a complete stranger.

Her skin was nothing like his own; painted emerald as if exposed to nature for too long. Her hair was deep lavender, reaching down by her ankles and still traveling behind her. The woman’s eyes had shocked him the most: they held a clear grey shine; clouds threatening storm.

Leon tried his best to keep away from her—anyone with skin in that condition must have a disease, and clearly should not be approached or interacted with. But the scent of roses and lilacs, and the way her hair flowed like a river reminded him of someone he knew, but just couldn’t remember.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he moved back as she neared, “this place is going to be knocked down, and you being here can halt our construction.”

She didn’t speak, but gave him a look of understanding. The side of her mouth curled into a smile. Her hair and clothing rustled in the wind—the weather was cold, and their breath showed clearly. There was an uncomfortable silence between them.

“Get out of here.” He demanded.

She still said nothing.

“Why won’t you respond??” He was infuriated by the air of cool, calm, collectiveness of this woman, “Where’s the way out, anyway?” he asked impatiently.

She pointed towards the darkness from whence she came, and only then did he notice the oak and maple leaves entangled in her hair, and the thin outline of fluorescent wings on her back. Her hair swished again, like a river. He recalled who she was.

“You…saved me, all those years ago…”

Her eyes glittered even with the shortage of sunlight in the woods.

“The lake…I was drowning, and you…pulled me out.” She quickly and quietly ran off, but he followed her, “Wait!” He called to her, “I want to—oh, Jesus—”

A sickening snap was heard, disturbing the resting ravens in the surrounding oaks. The fairy has gotten herself entwined in a snare that was meant for wondering wolves. It must have been left there for ages, unused.

She squeaked and struggled, only making the pain worse. Leon, feeling somewhat more lenient and kind than he had been just minutes ago, tried to calm her down and free her from the snare. But he hesitated, not able to bring himself to touch neither her nor the blood. He wanted to wait until help came.

He kneeled by her, shaking his fear off to help the being, “You didn’t hesitate.”

She was freed, giving him a look of thankfulness. She held his hands, giving his a light kiss on the cheek, then disappearing in a shower of glitter. A dimple appeared on his cheek—a “fairy kiss.”

He looked down at his hands where there was now a weight. It was the toy boat his father had given him all those years ago—he thought he lost it in the lake.