Mothlight {Flash Fic}
She didn't know she was a moth. But what she did know about herself was enough to keep her content. She knew she could fly with the soft breeze, and she loved the sweet taste of nectar. But most importantly, she adored the warmth of the sun. It was the first thing she felt when she emerged from her cocoon. While trapped in that silky shell, it was dark and cold. And she thought “Is this my world now?".
Then the first crack formed, the warmth and gentle light surrounded her.One day, she thought a piece of the setting sun had ripped itself free from the sky and crashed into her. It was another moth, wings as orange as the sunset.
“Hello,” he said to her as the two rested on a flower stem after their collision. His voice was timid, yet his antennas moved swiftly in excitement.
“Hello,” she responded in awe. The two, for a moment, just looked at each other. If only moths could love like humans, but between the two as the stars began to slowly emerge from the sky, the love she felt was enough. He stayed with her till the morning, then he took as was their custom. She must now find a safe place, the perfect place for the little ones to hatch. Yet, there was an ache in her heart.
“I'll come back for you” he promised “but I’m afraid you won't recognize me when I do” he added.
“Will you be changed?” she asked, crawling slowly after him.
“Oh yes, it's the final change you know, something we all go through”
“You mustn't worry,” she said, watching as the wind carried him away “I will know it's you, no matter how different you become” Then she went on her own way.
It took a few days, but she found the ideal tree for her eggs. In a distant memory, she remembered the leaves of these trees tasted with such a strong and sweet flavor. She wished she could stay a little longer, but knowing they would be safe gave her comfort. Now she had to find him. She fluttered around, looking, waiting. And yet, he was nowhere to be found. She began to fear, perhaps he had changed already and she truly didn't recognize him.
She could sense her own change. It was slow at first, the nectar no longer tasted sweet on her tongue, there was a dull pain in her wings when she flew. Even the leaves, once such a lush green, had turned into a bright, warm orange. At the sight, her little heart gave a strong thump. With her strength, she fluttered up to the orange canopy. There amongst the fluttering leaves, as if she was surrounded by his wings, she felt the warmth of the sun, lighting the sky on fire, just like the day they met.
“It's you” she sighed happily, her wings outstretched. Eyes closed, final breath cradled by him, her light.
The End
