A broken awakening

She could feel the light seeping through the haze of her consciousness. She tried to open her eyes, but like everything around her, they went about it at their own leisurious pace. The warmth spread through her like a liquid kiss, bringing comfort and a sense of hope. She felt her muscles expand, and bones crack as they tried to adjust to this extra space. The light was getting stronger and stronger, and she could feel something, like a cape from either side of her small body, trying to break free. Just as the light turned into blue heaven above her, something struck and she could feel she lost one of her capes. She stumbled and fell just outside her cocoon. She blinked several times, adjusting to these new surroundings. Everywhere she looked there were lush, green trees, swaying slightly in the breeze and brimming with sounds, either from the stir of the wind or from little creatures flying and moving around. To her, it looked like the whole place was enchanted and stuck in a celebratory dance.

„I'm so sorry. I didn't see you there. I was just hurrying to bring this flower powder to the Hive, and I didn't look where I was going, and then suddenly, you were there. Where did you come from anyway?" a voice chirped next to her.

She looked at the creature in front of her, golden and black stripes covering its bent body, and something buzzing around her.

„I don't know," she replied shyly „Actually, I came from this cocoon, but I don't remember how I got there."

„Oh, no. You're a butterfly. And I've broken your wing!" the creature exclaimed desperately.

„I am, a what?"

„A butterfly. Beautiful creatures who used to live like a caterpillar, an ugly thing really, and then you leave that body and you become this gentle little thing. Oh, what have I done?" the creature cried.

„Oh, don't worry. I'm sure it's not your fault," butterfly tried to sound reassuring. Honestly, she didn't even know what wings are, and she imagined she could live without them.

„But it is, and now you will never fly?"

„Fly? What does fly mean?"

„You don't know what wings are for? They are for flying, for seeing the world, of course!"

„Oh, I understand," the butterfly said realizing the situation and suddenly feeling sad.

„And just now when nature is awakening. We had the worst winter since the old times. Mother nature is indeed the most beautiful in this time of the year."

„I see." Butterfly said depressingly.

„Oh, what should we do. You can not stay on this branch forever."

„Excuse me, but you didn't tell me your name."

„Indeed. My name is Sunnybee. I'm a bee that collects nectar from flowers and makes honey."

„That sounds interesting," said butterfly not understanding what does that really mean.

„Oh, but it is," replied Sunnybee excitedly. „it is the most wonderful task on the whole wide world. Creating precious honey from flowers is a gift to nature, for all that she brings us."

„I understand." It all sounded strange to butterfly, as she didn't see the purpose for it, but she decided best not to mention it to Sunnybee.

„I have an idea!" suddenly exclaimed the bee. „I shall put you on my back and we will fly together. You will see the world and I will deliver my honey."

„I'm not sure that I can fit on your beck." said the butterfly.

„Nonsense," retorted Sunnybee „your legs and arms are tiny, and you have one wing, you can stir us if I go too fast."

„If you think so."

„I know so. Now, hop on," instructed Sunnybee.

Butterfly looked at her. She was indeed a tiny creature, but if she squeezes her legs, she could make it. She jumped and crashed into her.

„I told you to hop on, not in. I don't have a door on me you know. Now, try again," she encouraged her.

Butterfly eyed her body again and, with a deep breath, jumped. She crouched and tried to catch the back of her neck when Sunnybee yelled: „Don't pull so hard"

She immediately, let go, and fell with her all body, pressing Sunnybee to the ground.

„If I didn't destroy your wing, I would let you fall on your face. Now, hold on, but remember, not too hard." Said Sunnybee while slowly pushing them both up. She grabbed her bucket filled with nectar and pushed upward. It took all of the butterfly's strength not to clutch harder onto Sunnybee. The feeling of not standing on your feet and just relaying on this creature under her terrified her, so she kept her eyes closed. However, after a while, when she felt that the bee has control, she dared to open one eye. The view took her breath away. Vast fields of yellow, pink, and red flowers stretched out in front of them, using greenery as a base for weaving, and creating a divine work of colorful tapestry. Butterfly felt tears in her eyes, that is how affected she was. But suddenly something passed the, and Sunnybee yelled: „Use your wing, Butter. We need to go right." Now, the butterfly didn't know which was right and which was left, but she assumed she has to do something with her wing. She turned it to one side, when the bee yelled again: „Not to that side, the other." And then she understood, so she turned her wing to the other side, and suddenly they were going, as butterfly assumed, to the right. They flew into another forest, this one a tad different, with darker shades of green, and sharper trees. Sunnybee landed on one of them and the butterfly got off.

„Well, that was fun." Exclaimed Sunnybee.

„What was that thing?" asked butterfly still shaking from the flight.

„Oh, a crow. They sometimes appear, you can avoid them quite easily unless they hit you by accident."

The butterfly couldn't believe that the bee is taking all this too lightly, while she was ready to pass out.

„Oh, look. This is my home." She said and pointed to what looked like a roundhouse buzzing. There must be thousands of bees, thought the butterfly curiously.

„C'mon. Let's meet my family."

„Are you sure? Maybe they won't like me."

„Nonsense, they'll love you just like I do."

„You do?" asked the butterfly hopingly.

„Of course. What, you are my best friend now. I don't let just anybody fly on my beck, you know."

Just as they stepped nearer the hive, one group separated and came forward to meet them.

„Sunnbee, who is this stranger? And why did you bring it here?"

„Hello, sister. This is Butter, short for butterfly. I broke her wing so I had to show her how to fly." Explained hurriedly the bee.

„You should have left her then, she won't survive past midnight anyway."

The butterfly could feel the tears welling up in her eyes.

„What do you mean?" she asked the other bee.

„Isn't it obvious? You are a butterfly, born out of the caterpillar. A gift for living such a lowly life. But it comes at a price. You only get to be like that for one day. After, you die." Finished the bee matter-of-factly.

„I die? What is die?" she asked, fearful of the answer.

Sunnybee turned to her then, and she could see her eyes filled with teras.

„That means you are no longer among the living, that you become one with the Mother Nature."

It was all too much for the butterfly. She fell to the ground holding her crying face in her hands.

„I am cursed!" she yelled through tears. Sunnybee suddenly went to her side.

„If you are cursed, then we all are. We all go to Mother Nature at some point, Butter."

„But, not now. You can still enjoy your honey, the flowers, and the flying. What have a got?"

„You have me," retorted the bee passionately „and as long as you allow me to be your friend, we shall make your time here worthwhile."

„Do you really mean that?"

„Yes, I mean it. Now, get up, wipe away those tears, and let's find another adventure. As long as the day lasts, and I can tell you that one day is long, we shall use it to the fullest. Are you with me?" asked Sunnybee.

„Yes." Replied decisively the butterfly.

„Good. Now, hop on. The world is waiting." They tore off as the sun smiled on them from up above.