1. Fallen Leaves and a Warning
The fallen leaves crunched under the weight of the children running through the streets. They happily ran towards the houses they knew would hand out the most candy. All throughout the streets the infamous words, “trick or treat!” were heard and the goblins and ghouls were rewarded for their frightening costumes. The witches and fairies were complimented on their wands and dresses. The knights proudly boasted they’d slayed dragons only to run off when the masked monsters spooked them.
The breeze picked up and sent chills through the citizens of Holiday Lane as it caressed them and promised to bring colder days and nights with it. The full moon illuminated the town as its citizens went about their lives celebrating All Hallows’ Eve. All under the watchful eye of someone…special.
She sat atop the hill that overlooked her town. The town she had come to know and love. The town she had created. She sighed sadly for the nostalgia that hit her. Once long ago when it had been fairly new she was sure it would always prosper. She had felt as if she’d never be alone again…and years later there she was…alone. Her town had been an experiment; to prove that there was kindness in humanity and that the darkness could be eradicated. But along the way the twists and turns had become too much and it had all become as twisted as the roots of a tree.
She watched the little ones race each other to get to the treats and she watched the older ones pull their tricks on their neighbors; all in the spirit of good fun. She looked through the houses of all and saw a variety of stories. An unsatisfied couple on the verge of divorce, a bitter old man counting his money yet again, a mother tucking her kids in at night, a grandmother praying, a young man finishing up his project that was due the next day. She watched it all unfold and she knew how their stories would end.
Closing her eyes, she blocked out all sounds and embraced the calm that overcame her because of that she didn’t sense the presence of the one behind her.
“It’s a beautiful town,” the voice spoke behind her and it carried over to the town but by the time it went around the sound was lost and the only thing left was the cool breeze. Her whole body went rigid as she realized he had snuck up on her.
“It is,” she answered softly and more wind blew to the town.
“You know why I’m here,” he spoke. “The prophecy tells that this is the year.”
“How would you know that this is year?” she asked, refusing to turn around and look him in the eyes. She would not give him the satisfaction of seeing her pain. She knew the answer but was afraid to look, instead she closed her eyes.
“You know as well as I do. When the last leaf falls off the Tree of Faith then it will be the end. The end of the town, and the end of you Faith,” he spoke softly and not unkindly but there was nothing that could stop the tears from falling. No matter how tight she closed her eyes the tears still slowly fell down her cheek and onto the ground. Where the tear hit a white flower bloomed despite the cold of the weather. “Do not cry Faith.”
“I don’t want to vanish. I want to be here for a long time,” she begged knowing how childish she sounded.
“You have lived for a long time. For centuries you have lived overlooking your prosperous town. You were given the chance to create, to love, to hope and like all things you too must die.”
“But I want to stay here. Please father?” she begged and at last turned to look at him. He smiled sadly at her and embraced her.
“My daughter you will rise again one day.”
“But by then my town will be nothing more than a myth,” she replied and more tears fell. “I don’t want them to suffer because of me. Their stories need to be told, they need to be lived constantly.”
“Already they have forgotten you and you would have them continue living in ignorance?”
“If it meant they could live, then yes,” she answered immediately and he pointed out beyond the town on the other side where in the middle of the forest stood the biggest tree around. It was invisible to all but the two of them. At one time she had loved that tree it had represented faith and hope. It had been her. It had brought joy. But that was a long time ago. There was one leaf left and she knew it would fall before tonight ended.
“By the end of this year, all their stories will end. What you should do is try and make sure that they have happier endings.”
“And what of my ending?” she asked feeling so alone.
“You have always known that this would be it. Even the beauty of a town like this cannot hide the darkness within. You look the other way. But I cannot. You knew the final leaf would fall when faith was no longer a virtue these people could claim. They see with their own eyes and yet still refuse to believe. When was the last time anyone has actually seen you? Or I should say when was the last time anyone could see you?”
“That’s not fair,” Faith responded. “I could be visible to them if I made them bel-”
“If you made them believe? That is not the way Faith. Seeing is not believing. You will see when you believe and they do not believe.”
“But what if at least one of them believed and saw me? Could they be saved?” she asked yearning for some positive news.
“Even then I’m afraid it’d be too late. The prophecy foretold this town’s end as well as yours. This is my first and final warning. Instead of trying to fight it, accept it and do what you can to live these next couple of weeks to the fullest. You had a chance at love and never even found it. Look for it now?”
“And what would be the point, father, when I’m sentenced to death?” she asked and he shook his head sadly. He stood tall and grand atop the hill. His beard was as white as snow and his eyes were as dark as the night sky. And when the tear fell down his cheek her anger disappeared.
“You’re losing your life. But I will have to live on without my daughter for millennia. I will be alone and there’s no greater pain than having forever to know what it feels like to be alone. Use your time wisely daughter,” he whispered one last time and when the tear hit the ground he spread his arms and the night sky engulfed him and they became one. The tear in the ground formed a puddle that seemed to be growing and Faith had to take several steps back to avoid the water. She at last gave up her spot and lifted herself off the ground. She watched the small puddle became a lake.
When the clock struck midnight October 31st became November 1st and she spread her wings and followed her father’s path as she let her surroundings engulf her and she became the cold breeze that blew through the houses of everyone. The citizens of Holiday Lane did not sense that the end was near. But they would soon enough. Their breaths were numbered and Faith had many things to do before that final breath. Far from the town the final leaf slowly fell to the ground sealing their fates.
