{ Wendy }

I'm grasping his hand, standing on the edge of my windowsill, petrified and frozen with wonder. My nightgown dances in the night breeze and my once lady-like curls are now unruly and windswept. Below us, the city streets are illuminated with evening merriment and party goers. I think of my mother and father, dressed in fine fur coats arriving at the party. I recall their cautious warnings before they left for the night : "Now, Wendy, tonight you must be a lady and take care of your brothers. Behave properly, read the boys a bedtime story, and see to it that Nanna gets her porridge. Let no strangers enter the house and make sure all doors and windows are locked properly..." What would they think of me if they saw me now? What am I becoming? I am no longer a proper lady. I don't want to be proper lady. I never want to grow up and live the dull earthly life of my parents, working all day and sleeping all night. But I promised them didn't I? I promised to be a good girl.
I turn to look over my shoulder, past the billowing white curtains that separate my bedroom from the night air. John and Michael are sleeping soundly and snoring contently in their safe beds, completely care free. For a brief moment, doubt looms over me like a dark cloud.
"Forget them." says the boy reading my thoughts like a book. His hand tightens around mine.
"Forget them all. Fly with me..."
Before finishing his sentence, he lightly steps off the windowsill. I gasp and shut my eyes tightly, fully expecting him to fall to his death.
But he doesn't fall. He's flying. He remains suspended in the night air as if held by invisible strings.
Words escape me. I stand practically terrified, on the verge of the biggest adventure of my life.
"Fly with me." He says again taking both my hands in his, staring eagerly at me with those mischievious green eyes.
My heart skips a beat.
"We'll be young forever...all you have to do is jump."
I breathe and close my eyes once more. I can feel him smiling. I can't believe myself. I can't believe this is true.
1. 2. 3...
I step off the windowsill.