The Secret to Flying

Sanguine thought of the ever-flowing waters of the river, crystal clear, and warm against her skin. A lazy current carrying her along in her mind, she dips her fingers into the stream once more.

Secure on her raft, floating slowly to nowhere, the journey is the destination. Each noise fizzles out as it dives below the surface of the water she summons; in her heart she lives in paradise.

When relaxation turns into restlessness, Sanguine departs the steady surge. Reorienting herself with each limb like a stranger at first, the buzz of youth hastens the process. Excitement builds kingdoms in the girl's mind. Here, all aquatic forms triumph in perfection.



The sea is queen, dear Sanguine her most dedicated jester. The girl's whims collect like condensation, immaculate amusement. Until the sky cannot hold the mirth Sanguine instills, heavy in joyous droplets. Sublimity returns to its source, echoing out in a merry downpour.

Nearby, the waves of the Queen Ocean lay their salt against straw huts. Tiki motifs blend in with the perfect white of the sand, where music drifts up euphonically from each grain. Cordial in its vague ambience, it beckons her forth. Come back princess, where the waters know your name, and drift for you. Utopia is lost without your careless jubilance!

^{Photo by T0nymix}
Opening her eyes, Sanguine lets the precious images go, for now. Sitting up in bed, she stretches to a stand, yawning out her frustration. It is hard when you are four, and cannot sleep.

Shuffling over to press her face to the cool surface of her bedroom window, she spots a fickle friend beyond. The barn owl whom she thought of as Bruno flew away, if only she could follow suit. You can do anything when you know how to fly!

Bruno sometimes landed on the tree outside her window, silent in a sort of vigil. He never answered Sanguine's questions, only tuned his head side to side. His reflector eyes were like bolts of lightning in the dark, conveying enough in their untamed wisdom.

Once more, she watched him bend the air to his will beneath his wings, launching up towards the clouds. Free, Bruno had no master outside of his own nature. He probably visited Kalahari all the time, Sanguine thought bitterly.



Momma said that place was far away, but so was the grocery store, and they went there all the time! She said they could return in "a while", that could mean anything, Sanguine mused.

With the woeful sigh that only a disappointed child may carry in their lungs, Sanguine felt her eyes begin to burn. No, she wouldn't cry, Hem would make her feel better.

With one last glance towards the window, Sanguine crawls into bed, digging her friend out from under the covers. His small face was always smiling.

Under the warm fluff of her comforter, she squeezes her stuffed hedgehog tight. "Remember when we went to Arizona, Hem?" Sanguine asks her tiny pal, "We climbed right into the big metal bird..." her small voice lays against the sheets with them.

^{Photo by cocoparisienne}
"I wish I could fly like Bruno, Hem." Sanguine strokes the spiky fuzz of his back. "I would take you with me, and we'd live at Kalahari Water Park." she finishes with a yawn. Her eyes are heavy, she doesn't know why. She isn't tired...

As her head sinks the rest of the way into the pillow, she confirms it verbally. "I'm not tired." her voice echoes oddly around the bright bedroom.

"I know you're not, San... Is it okay if I call you that?" His voice is a miniscule squeak. She nods her agreement with a warm smile, before she realizes Hem doesn't speak. Jolted upright by this connection, she scrutinizes her pal.

"You can talk?!" Sanguine hisses at her friend, her sapphire eyes full of wonder.



"I can now!" Hem says, although his mouth does not move. "I've been saving up my magic for you San, I may have just enough..." He trails off, the familiar grin firmly glued in place.

"Enough?" Sanguine asks, maybe it was good Hem didn't talk, he wasn't all that good at it.

"Yes! Yes indeed! But San, you have to promise me... don't be mad if it doesn't work, ok?" There is desperation in his squeak.

"Hem, I have no idea what you're saying!" Sanguine huffs, looking for meaning in the corners of her room. The window is cracked open, how did that happen? Rolling out of bed once more, she pads over to close it, when the universe loudly greets her.

The sky is a swirl of blue and dusty orange, sprinkled with the rouge emerald or magenta patch here and there. Sanguine finds it odd that there are no stars tonight, until she realizes those are the stars! The naked sky hides beneath robes of woven galaxies.

Her eyes wander to the yard, when she realizes it isn't night at all! The sun shines on the vivid grass. Bees rush about in their daily tasks, as a warm breeze drifts in through the window.

^{Photo by spirit111}
"That's not our yard, Hem." San's voice shakes as she looks around, worry creasing her face.

"Don't be afraid, this is good San! It worked!" Hem says from her side, but there are too many things happening for this to feel odd to the girl. She doesn't even react to it. "Try to fly San, I think you can!"

And she does, slowly at first. Pointed toes, too afraid to stray from the windowsill, Sanguine takes on the appearance of a tied down balloon. "I knew it San! Oh, please, don't let my magic fizzle! Fly, my friend!" Hem's voice is even higher pitched now, his excitement bursting through the words.

"Okay, Hem... here I go!" Sanguine shouts, triumphant, as she spins away from her bedroom, leaving her buddy behind.

Like riding a bike for the first time, flying is wobblily business. She spirals as she pushes off from her safe harbor. Sanguine felt as if she would fall right out of the sky! Panic is often temporary though, and soon she began to explore the ground, not fear it. It was fun to be so high up!



It seemed that where trees ended, lush fields dotted with bright blooms began as far as the eye could see. Wait. Where was the water park? Surely, now that she could fly, it would appear ahead! Yet, it didn't. Frustration shattered Sanguine's appreciation.

This wasn't right... it wasn't wrong though, either. Not truly. With a deep breath, just like mom taught her, she tried to think on the bright side. She was flying! Did she really care about swimming when she could soar?

Yes. She did, however the feeling passed. As bravery took hold, San dived down into the trees, coming up with leaves within her hair. She surfed the treetops like a wave, forgetting now that there was a time she did not fly. She spent all day like this, until she found a lake hidden under the canopy of the massive forest.

Then, she swam her small heart out. Losing steam little by little, she realized how hungry she was, as the cool waters held her in their palm. That's when she smelled good fortune, a familiar favorite beckoning her back into the trees.

^{Photo by neciodesalida}
Floating along the ground as if she never took a step in her life, San follows the trail of dinner. She would recognize pizza anywhere, even in a dream world. A dream world? Oh. The trees deflate like a collapsed soufflé, swiping the scenery away in a gust of wind. Sanguine blinks, she is hugging Hem, in her bed. No, that's not cool!

She squeezes her eyes shut, willing herself back to sleep... She imagines the pizza, it is waiting for her. It has the bitter leaves that mom uses, she calls them the secret to pizza. A table materializes, and there it is. The perfect snack on a wooden board, right in the middle of the woods. Fancy.

San sits and enjoys her dream as she eats, conjuring fireworks and odd animals to keep her company. With a giggle, she summons a hundred multicolored owls, and they settle as one in the branches above. "Have you guys ever been to Kalahari Water Park?" she asks with a mouthful of crust, spraying crumbs in an arc.

The owls don't answer, but they don't need to. Rubbing her hands together to prime herself for flying, Sanguine shoots up with sheer will. The park is there this time, she can make out the shocking yellow of the floaties which circle the lazy river. Her pack rises to meet her in the air, and she leads the way to paradise.


I wrote this for the prompt last week... or week before... idk. Really, I wrote this for my daughter, who I think can lucid dream. It's hard to know for sure, 4-year olds can be interesting communicators.

She loves Kalahari Water Park (which she went to once, several months ago) and owls. These are big themes in her life. I hope you read this and laugh someday Thea ❤️. Side note: Kalahari Water Park, worst name ever?