Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash
Judith and Jason Craig were twins who grew up in upstate New York. They may have shared a womb, but they were opposites. They would travel to the city a few times out the month with their parents as their dad had family who lived there.
Judith had never liked going to the city because it was too loud for her. She preferred living in the suburbs and a farm lifestyle. On the other hand, Jason loved the busy streets of New York City. It was his dream to move there one day and practice law.
Their parents both worked in education. Their dad was an institute director at a university, and their mom was a principal at a high school. They were loved by both parents and had everything they needed and more.
………..
It was a Saturday morning, and it was cloudy outside. Judith was hoping that her parents would cancel the trip to the city. Instead, she wanted to stay in and read a book. It was her cousin’s birthday. Judith knew her mother hated driving in the rain, so she hoped she’d convince their dad not to go.
Unfortunately, her mom came into her room to ensure she was up and getting ready for the party. She’d forgotten this cousin was the child of her dad’s favorite cousin. She took her time getting dressed. She made sure to grab the book she was reading so she could finish it in the car.
Jason was already downstairs when she entered the living room. Her mom handed her a coat and a pop tart. Her mom always wanted to beat the rain, which meant Saturday morning butter pancakes. It’s not like Judith didn’t love her cousin. She was just tired and wanted to lay in bed and read all day. It would have been the perfect Saturday to do so.
They made it to her cousin’s house before the rain started. The party was moved inside. It was a good thing her cousin’s parents had some money because their place was big enough to hold everyone. Judith ended up enjoying herself.
It was raining on the way home. She was glad her parents opted to go home instead of staying the night. She didn’t have overnight clothes, her cousin was taller than her, and her cousin’s pajamas always felt like she was swimming in them. Judith ended up dozing off on the way home.
………………………………………………..
Judith slowly opened her eyes, and there was a bright light. She was in a white room and in a bed that wasn’t hers. A woman sat in a chair beside her bed. She didn’t know where she was, and she immediately panicked. She began to call for her mom. The woman woke up and tried to soothe her. Judith shouted for her mother louder and pushed the woman’s hand away.
The lady left, and when she returned, she had nurses and her grandmother with her. Her grandmother came over to Judith and wrapped her arms around her. It was the only thing that calmed her down.
Once Judith had calmed down, her grandmother pulled a chair up to her bed. She nodded to everyone, and they left. Judith thought that it was weird but stayed quiet. Finally, her grandmother told her that there had been a bad accident. When her parents had stopped for gas, they were shot, and their car was stolen. The robber didn’t know Judith and Jason were in the back sleeping. They sped off but lost control because of the rain and flipped the car.
Her dad died instantly, and their mom died once she got to the hospital from her wounds. She and Jason survived the crash, but Judith had hit her head so hard it knocked her into a coma. Jason did have some cracked ribs, but nothing bad enough to keep him in the hospital. Judith felt her heart break into a million pieces. Her crying was uncontrollable, and the doctor had to order the nurse to give her something to sleep.
When she had awoken, her grandmother was still in the room. She climbed into bed with her and held her. She explained to Judith that she couldn’t take both her and Jason to live with her at her age. Instead, she would take Jason, and Judith’s sister would take her. That was the woman sitting in the chair when she woke up the first time.
Judith had never met her aunt before. Her mother never talked about her family. Judith stopped asking a long time ago when she was vague about it. She pleaded with her grandmother to ask one of her other aunts or uncles. Since they all had multiple children, no one could take her in. Her grandmother promised to keep in contact and get her on the summers when she could. They sat in bed for a long time and just held each other. That was the last time she ever saw her grandmother because she passed away one month before Judith was supposed to go back to New York and visit her.
…………………….
“Since your grandmother isn’t sending money anymore, you’ll have to work to live in my house. I already have three children I must feed, and that money helped, and your dad’s family is being selfish.”
Judith’s aunt busted open the door to her room and dragged her downstairs to the basement. That space was usually used when company came over, and everyone hung out down there. It was now empty and had a twin-size bed in the middle. In addition, there was a dresser and a desk.
“This is where you will live from now on. There are a few clothes in the dresser. I will give you a schedule for everything you’ll do around the house to earn your keep. You will no longer attend school. You don’t need it with how much you read. you’re allowed to grab your books and one thing from your old room.” She walked out.
Judith stood in the room and just stared at the space she was to now call her home. She took a deep breath and told herself not to cry. She had to be strong because she knew her parents would want her to be strong. She slowly walked up stairs and to her room. She packed her book in a bag and grabbed her stuffed fairy who she named Pearl.
As soon as she walked out of her room, her cousin ran up to her and hugged her.
“I’m so sorry my mom is treating you like this. She said we can’t talk to you anymore now that you’re the help.” Then, she ran off, and Judith slowly walked back downstairs to the basement.
She set up her new room as much as she could. Her aunt brought a tray of food down. She said that the help doesn’t eat with the family. She gave her a list she should start working on in the morning. That was the beginning of her new life. When she needed a break from her chores, she would go to her basement, sit at the desk, and write about the land of fairies.
One day, she found an odd key. It looked just like the shape of the keyhole to the basement. No one was home, so she knew she could take a break. She walked up to the closed door, put the key in the lock, and it turned. She took it out and did it again to unlock it. When she opened the door, she couldn’t believe her eyes.
When she stepped through the door frame, her feet touched the softest, greenest grass she had ever seen in her life. The trees almost touched the sky, and the colors of the flowers were so vibrant you could practically touch the color.
“Hello, Judith Craig.”
Judith turned around, and there stood the most beautiful fairy. It was her stuffed fairy her mother gave her when she was younger.
“Oh wow! You’re Pearl. but how-”
“Because of you! You created this world and brought me here. You saved the fairies from wandering.”
“What?”
“That’s a chat for another time. First, let me introduce you to everyone. They’ve been waiting patiently for you to come.”
Pearl held out her hand, and after a few seconds, Judith took her hand and let her lead the way. It was the cutest town Judith had ever seen. She met so many fairies. After that day she spent so much time there. But no matter how long she stayed there, it was always the same time when she went back home. She learned that the Fey world moved slower than her time.
The Fey world became her getaway place. Her happy place. A place she went to handle living with her aunt.
But just like any other child that creates a world, they eventually grow up and stop visiting and no longer need that world. Eventually, Judith was old enough to move out of her aunt’s home against her aunt’s wishes. She moved as far away as she could. She went to college, got married, and had two children.
Judith no longer needed the fey world. She no longer needed her imagination.
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I love this story! It was fun reading it