Happy ending

So he encouraged him strongly.

- Please make a little effort, just a little. We are all here, we have all come. And we got rid forever of those hateful monsters that hurt you.

Then he took him in his wings, gently, tenderly.

-My friend...

But the latter was very exhausted, he could not even move, and his breathing could hardly be felt.

The nightingale's tears rained on him, flooding him with glittering drops.

- Wake up please my friend!

- You have come...

- Of course, of course I did... we'll get out of here. I will take care of you, don't worry.

The little black bird looked at the nightingale with eyes full of clarity.

- Look at me, there is nothing more to do,... I wanted to forget them for a moment, these monsters who enslaved me and cursed me. Your beauty, your majesty helped me to do it. I cannot advance any more now. He resigned himself painfully but in peace. However, I am no longer afraid to leave.

- But you must live and so I will live a little through you. You will find me in each leaf of the trees that the eastern winds will carry away in their indefinite ballet, and in the timeless murmurs of this enchanted forest that you love so much.

But the nightingale, unable to accept, to conceive this tragic end, revolted.

- No, you will live, because you will do it for me!

The small skinny one cried

- I don't see! I can do it anymore.

- I have to! I can't stand it any other way...

The frail bird closed his eyes for a moment, shaken by an unbearable emotion.

- So, are you really telling the truth, do you really want me to live?

- What a question! Of course I do.

With tears in his eyes, the little creature looked at his bird and begged.

- But the real reason, tell me. I need to hear it. I need to hear it. Please tell me.

The nightingale held him close and whispered.

- You already know. You've always known. You laughed at me... all this time for how I felt about you...

- Say it. I beg you.

- I love you.

The black bird moaned and his joy became infinite. His heart seemed to be finally free of the black magic that imprisoned him and his splendor. Then a great wave of light magic burst forth from his wounded body, and washed away his dark and torn shackles, as well as the ruined nest. So, they were all together bathed in the resplendent light of the sun. Then the nightingale turned to his friends and sang. His fabulous song, which everyone already loved so much, but which this time was born of a boundless and pure love, spread throughout the kingdom, made it glow and healed the old wounds.

When he had finished, the skinny one became a sublime bird with multicolored feathers and threw himself into the wings of the nightingale who was dazzled by the transformation of his friend.

- But you are a girl. He finally said when his surprise and effusions were a little calmed.

- Yes smiled the rainbow bird, with a hesitant smile. Are you disappointed? she asked trembling.

The nightingale reassured her with his smile and his affection.

- Let us see. Never.

Then entwined in their beautiful plumage, the nightingale turned to his friends.

- In fact, how did you find me?

They answered with sincerity.

- Your wings, your plumage, all of this had guided us.

- For their wonderful beauty will never fade.

- Yes, they are a reflection of your soul, the beautiful rainbow bird finished.

And so they all lived together happily until the end of time.

***

That was the story.

- So what did you think of Mommy's story?

- It's beautiful, Mommy, it's wonderful, I couldn't imagine that anyone could create such a work!

Fiona was thrilled, moved to tears by this first book by our mother. Which was completely understandable. It was truly what we called a masterpiece. Every word, every illustration reflected the author's soul. I could have said the same thing, or just added a kind word, but I was unable to do so. I was speechless in front of this magnificent art, so much the story touched me, in a way I couldn't explain or say. And when sleep took hold of me and took me far, so far away, to that world of nature, where I was reincarnated as a rainbow bird, and I was frolicking in the air, in a forest of marvelous clarity where joy was the air we breathed, and the prince of the birds chose me as his wife, I knew that this dream was a revelation. What enchanted me more than anything else in this great illusory fairy tale, was my joy in announcing to the world a love of which I was nevertheless unaware.

I flew far, as far as my wings were able to take me, to see this kingdom that would soon be mine, but in my euphoria I did not notice that I was entering a whole other universe. A universe that I did not understand. And when I wanted to turn back, I couldn't do it, because golden claws took hold of my body. I was not able to run away anymore. I was distraught, but the strangest thing was not my imprisonment in this indestructible cage of pain, but rather my heart and its reasons. I felt, despite myself, tenderness towards my tormentor, a tenderness so great that I thought I would faint and never recover.

But the morning came, and dissipated my dreams, but before it faded away completely... just a little... just a brief moment... I wanted to see the golden face of my giant monster again.

- Dania... Dania... My darling you have to get up now, it's already 7 o'clock.

Fiona has already finished her morning gymnastics. And you should go.

Every morning to keep healthy I had to run for twenty-five minutes, then a bit of stretching.

I was having breakfast when a visitor came unexpectedly, a foreigner, Irish perhaps, I couldn't remember, my mother didn't tell us. He introduced himself as Mom's oldest friend, the funniest thing about him was his name - Cyclone. This did not make me laugh, but intrigued me. When Mom saw him, her eyes lit up with a thousand celestial stars. This metamorphosis dazzled me completely. She received him in our living room. I was allowed to sit in on their discussion, and while he was talking about world news, I was drawing various birds and creatures with golden claws capable of holding a small rainbow bird and at the same time arousing boundless affection. I didn't really pay attention to them or their lively discussion until they were talking about a friend. A friend who seemed to have a deep and special importance.

- Twenty years already. How time flies. Mother remarked with a nostalgic sigh.

- Yes.