HAPPINESS & HOPE The world was gray and quiet. Then the sun peeked around the mountains and rose higher shining through hazy morning clouds. Its warming rays glided down upon earth, waking up unsuspecting nature from its slumber. The trees breathed and their leaves whispered to the birds in their nests on the trees, to wake up and feel the sensation of spring. Ah, the rays alighted the flowers to their bloom and the forest grew to have happy colours. The wind gently blowed and its caressing touches woke up many more plants. Animals in the forest, on the mountains and everywhere yawned and gathered outside to witness the beauty of life. A small spark of light traveled farther than any else and finally arrived at a glade. It carefully landed next to a nest of leaves and lifted some of the brownish leaves to see under them. There lay a girl, minimal by size, great by beauty. She had wings of pure white, just like the other spark of light. Faerie girls they were and both radiated light around them, wherever they went. They were Hope and Happiness. Happiness stretched and crawled lazily out of her winter nest. Hope flew in circles around her and giggled. Her voice sounded like that of a delicate silvery bell. Happiness looked around and smiled. She sung her first spring song and the ground beneath her sprouted a wild flower that raised her higher, in the air. Hope flew closer and landed next to her, on one of the flower's petals. They joined hands and jumped off, opening their wings. Light flared out and lighted the whole glade. They were but sparks of bright light, like the kind that warmed you inside and made you believe in everything good. Had you been there, you would have closed your eyes and felt the music of cherubs sing inside you. It was spring after all, when all life on earth breathed the same air of happiness. Side by side, Happiness and Hope flew to welcome humankind to a new age. (Saturday, January 24, 2004, late at night) This story © to Riikka Kankaanpää, please do not use without permission.