Here and There

I woke up to a pair of big playful eyes staring at me and wings flapping fiercely in my face. I sighed, knowing that there was no point in trying to get more snooze-time with Spice awake. Yawning, I stretched my arms and blinked rapidly. Spice impatiently tugged on my rumpled bedhead hair, urging me to begin the new day with him. “Okay okay I’m getting up. It’s Saturday you know” I huffed. Even as I grumbled my way out of bed, I couldn’t muster any anger at Spice. Having Spice here in front of me was a miracle. Spice is no ordinary house pet. He isn’t a cat, a canary or even a toucan. Spice is a dragon. My parents and I had found him in our yard on a blustery autumn evening last year. He was caught in the wildly thrashing branches of our enchanted birch tree. My heart beat a million times a minute that evening as all my dragon fantasies came to life. After we freed the merlot colored dragon from the entwining branches, we bathed and fed the scrawny little creature. For the first few months, we were anxious about how he would fare, but soon enough, his energy levels soared. By now, Spice’s scales robustly glimmer with health.

Still groggy, I opened the curtains of my window. The view outside stole the sleep from my eyes, though all I could see was endless fog. My fingers grazed the clear, spotless window. I stared transfixed at the dreamy vision which mesmerised me more with each passing day. My window faced the other realm, the world no one spoke of, the land of magic. If I squinted past the rolling waves of fog, I could see the hazy shapes and colors so curious and mystical. From time to time, a few pinches of the faraway enchantment would seep into our world. I knew I was merely getting a glimpse of the realm’s wonders. I was certain that Spice was born in that dream-world. Each time I pulled open the curtains, I pulled a curtain away in Spice’s mind unearthing sudden memories. He would claw at the window with his snout pressed against it, waves of longing overwhelming him. He always seemed so mournful that I closed the curtains quickly, hoping to quench the yearning in his golden heart. I wanted to bring back my carefree, spirited dragon.

Today, however, I was the one pressing my nose against the window, oblivious to the frigid bite of the glass. I needed just a few more moments of the mystical view, a few more seconds to see the land I could only visit in my exquisite dreams. I would give anything for a chance to actually go there. I didn’t care about my mom’s warnings. She said that people feared the other realm. They considered it a threat to humankind. I couldn't help feeling frustrated. They widely perceived the enigmatic land as dangerous, yet everyone still reveled at the small wonders of magic. I longed to see all the mythical creatures or at the very least, an occasional elf out on his regular errands. With Spice in my life, I craved magic and mystery like never before. I pined for fairies, griffins and dragons to brighten my sky, for unicorns, mermaids and serpents to glorify my existence.

Lost in my fantasies, I didn’t notice that Spice’s whimpers had ceased. Turning my head sharply, I saw Spice trying relentlessly to open the window. My sudden movement startled him and he let go. I winced as the window closed with a sharp crash. A moment later, as anticipated, a familiar voice called “If you are going to wake up early, can you at least let us sleep in? In fact can you please just sleep in tomorrow, it’s Saturday for heaven’s sake?” “Okay Mom” I yelled back. “Do you understand what she is saying Spice? Please please save us all another groggy morning” I grumbled, nudging Spice with my elbow. I took one last look at the view, my wide eyes devouring the world of endless dreams. “Oh well, maybe someday” I thought, drawing the curtains once again.