Reign; Happy Birthday

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Reign thought she caught little flickers of bright green lights flying across the dusty room when she let herself in. Her solo art exhibition scheduled for the next week was the perfect opportunity to visit home and pick up the pieces. She hadn't been in her hometown since Elsazar passed ten years ago.

“Think harder Reign. Splash your thoughts and imaginations in ink. The world is your canvas. Create the magic you want to see. These are the embers of what you want from life.” Elsazar would make Reign's imagination grow wild and fierce, thundering Images and scenes she never imagined she could conjure. At the time Reign always felt like Elsazar’s ways were torture but now that she was staring at her old easel, she was grateful that her great-aunt had opened up her mind to such depths.

She looked at the drawing table and saw her little self sitting there with her eyes shut as she wandered into a realm of imagination and possibilities. “Do I have to do this every year? I mean, technically I have no birthdays. At least just once in four years.” Reign marveled at the memory of her little pouted lips from fourteen years ago and smiled. “The years feel so close,” she whispered.

“The more reason you have to do this, Reign. With art, you get to create a world that is real only if you believe it. Open your eyes Reign and look at the spectacle you've created.” Elsazar moved Reign's chin up to the canvas in front of her. “Now think just for a moment and insert yourself in this beautiful world you have created. You only live once. But perhaps in that life, you can live lives that you create for yourself.”

Little Reign closed her eyes again and this time, she smiled. She envisioned herself amidst the blue skies and reverberating fauna. She could feel the sun on her face and the sand beneath her feet. She wasn't sure if it was her imagination doing it or Elsazar’s strong yet convincing tone.

Reign’s recollections felt so vivid playing out right in front of her eyes. She smiled at the fond memories she had of herself and Elsazar in the little warm space they called home. Reign missed Elsazar so dearly. The firm and yet tender character was a huge part of her life and she owed her success to the woman. Elsazar helped Reign open her eyes to see the art in life. As such Reign grew up to become a very successful artist.

“The greatest picture you are ever going to paint is the life you dream of, Reign. Always remember that.” Elsazar would whisper into Reign’s ears as she circled her on the easel. She would always make Reign do those paintings only to char them in small green glowing embers. Then she would have Reign blow the dust beneath the stars in the night sky.

Now that Reign thought about it, she wondered where her aunt got those embers. She also wasn't sure why Elsazar thought that the act was a gift. Reign was born on a leap day and as such, she could only have birthdays every leap year. So in other years, Elsazar would make Reign do these little rituals every eve of the birthday that never came. “Think of it as saving your days in time Reign.” She would often say. The woman was a huge dose of sweetness, firmness, and mystery that Reign loved so much.

Reign had the perfect picture in her head. She only wanted a world where she could freely wander in its vastness and soak in the aura. She wanted the depth and freedom that she only created in her paintings. A place where she could dance in the rain and sing in the mountains without a care in the world.

That evening after resting, Reign walked to her old dusty easel where her canvas of memories lay empty. She wiped off the dust and ran her eyes over it. Reign felt a longing and calling. She hadn't painted in that room since she was sixteen.

She gathered her tools and began splattering on the canvas. After all, it was the Eve of her 24th birthday that would never come. She was going to perform Elsazar’s ritual one more time. With her heart leading the brush, Reign painted a picture that stunned her. It was the splendid image of a place she often called freedom. This time, it was more compelling.

“What next now?” Reign asked herself. She then reached for her aunt's green embers and lit them up. For the first time, she marveled at the coal that now looked magical in her eyes.

Breathing in her painting, she took one more look at it before setting it ablaze. Soon, there was nothing left but green glowing ashes.

“Let it soar and take the leap.” Reign felt the air of a whisper beneath her neck. She began to feel like Elsazar was beside her. She slowly walked outside and looked at the dazzling stars. Without any hesitation, Reign blew green dust into the air.

The air started to feel warmer and gentle whispers from afar drew nearer. Reign's curiosity piqued. Suddenly, the shimmering dust began to assemble before her eyes. In no time, a large gleaming circle had opened up for her.

Reign peeked at the peaceful silence around her before venturing into the unknown. She didn't know what to expect but her curiosity preceded her.

Inside the circle was entirely different from the space she left behind. The ground was warm and the air chilly. She felt the world spinning around her. As it spun, Reign found herself immersed in the series of worlds she had created through art. The same ones she had scattered in ashes all those years. Finally, the spinning stopped and Reign found herself in her final painting. It was a vast green field filled with cherries and roses. She could smell the air and feel the sun on her face. Reign smiled before she started to laugh. The kind of laughter that competed with the birds in the sky.

It finally hit her. Elsazar had made her save the birthdays she never had in her paintings. Although she only got to live once, through that life, she lived all the lives she thought she had missed out on in just one moment. Reign closed her eyes so she could relish the moment for as long as it lasted.