Bringing The Colors Back

My world is only black and white. Also, a couple greys. And I don’t mean that figuratively. I mean literally.

Everything always seems so dull and dim. It’s actually overwhelming. Not too many people are happy like they used to be, before I was born.

My grammy used to tell me all about the rainbow. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. Even the neutral colors like brown or tan. How everyone used to be joyful.

But then the storm hit.

It was so big and harsh that, when everyone opened their doors once it had passed, the colors were gone. The sun hasn’t come out since.

But that was forty years ago. Twenty-three years before I was born.

So, naturally, that’s the one thing I long for. The one thing I dream of seeing.

But it’s been too long. Everyone’s lost hope.

Except me, that is.

~~~

I am sitting in the rain, the drops hitting my face as I tilt my head up and close my eyes.

Grammy told me that water was the color of a clear blue.

I wish I could see what that color is. Blue. It has a nice sound to it. I bet I would love the color if I were to ever see it.

I open my eyes again and look at my bare arms. The little beads look almost like glass as they hit my skin.

Mother always tells me not to sit in the rain for so long. She says I will catch a cold. Especially since I am in a t-shirt.

But, I never listen to her warnings. I don’t care if I catch a cold. When I need a moment to myself, I need it in that moment.

She and my sister, Emma, are fighting again. Emma didn’t do the dishes like she was supposed to, so my mother got mad. And once again, I was put in the middle.

“Jazelle, tell her I’m right!” my sister yelled to me.

“I’m your mother. You can’t go against me!” my mom also shouted to me.

I didn’t know how to react, like always. So I stepped away and came out here to the front porch. I told them I wasn’t feeling too well.

Grammy used to tell me what color everything was.

Purple flowers like lavenders and violets.

The green grass.

Yellowish sun.

Orange fire.

Red blood.

Sorry, I got a bit dark there for a moment.

And of course, the blue water.

Though, I don’t hear those stories anymore. Not since Grammy passed.

The night her light went out, she had taken my hand and whispered something to me.

“Remember, my little Jazzy, the colors will come back. Everyone just has to have imagination and the hopes that you do. My dearest, promise me you’ll bring them back.”

“I promise, Grammy,” I whispered back.

A few minutes later I was crying my eyes out. But that was a couple months ago. Now, I need to focus on her wish.

I close my eyes and try to imagine what the colors would look like.

Grammy said red looks like love. Orange looks like warmth. Yellow looks like happiness. Green looks like life. Blue looks like sadness. Indigo looks like wisdom. And violet looks like ambition.

I pull those feelings from my emotions and try to feel them at their strongest points.

Every now and then I have this moment. This moment where I feel like, if only my thoughts were strong enough, I could see the colors. Actually see them.

So, I won't stop trying.

Today, I’m feeling extra sensitive. It’s Grammy’s birthday. Yet, mom and Emma are still fighting. They don’t realize how that makes me feel.

I imagine standing in an open green field with the yellow sun shining bright on my face and the blue sky above me.

I can still feel the raindrops from reality but I ignore that and focus on my daydream.

I can actually feel the orange warmth. The violet ambition that I have to achieve my goal of bringing the colors back. The indigo wisdom of my Grammy. And the red love I feel for her.

I try to focus on one color at a time. Maybe it’ll actually work.

Blue. I really want to see that color. The water, the sky, bluebirds, blueberries.

I open my eyes, mentally holding onto that string of hope.

But everything is still black, white, and grey. I really thought it would finally work.

I sigh and stand up, about to head inside with defeat, but then it catches my eye.

A flash of something other than the neutral landscape.

I hold up a hand and watch as the water that hits it slowly fades to a color. Blue! It has to be!

I need to tell the people in my town. I turn and sprint.

“Everyone, look!” I yell as I run to the center of town. I jump up on the side of the water fountain and wave my arms.

I keep shouting as people step out of their houses to look at the commotion.

“What is it?” asks a little girl, who I know as Sarah.

“Look at the water! It’s blue!” I yell, beckoning around us at the drops raining down. “Please believe me, Sarah. I beg of you.”

She squints her eyes and looks at the water hitting her arms.

“It’s not…grey?” She gasps and holds out her arms to the water.

“It’s not grey! It’s blue! Clear blue!” I shout with a smile.

“This is atrocious! You all are seriously going to believe a teenager? The colors have been gone for years and they aren’t coming back!” A woman, who I know as Sofia, steps forward and raises her hands.

“Oh, but they can. We just have to believe. Together, as my grammy always said. I promise,” I say with a bit of anxiety but I try to sound persuasive.

Sofia scoffs slightly. “Your grammy was a crazy old loon. Just like you are.”

I tilt my head and look at her for a moment before taking a deep breath. “Who would you rather believe? An innocent child with a bit of imagination? Or an old woman who has done everything but be innocent?” I ask the crowd calmly, opening my arms again.

Everything is silent for a minute.

“I see the blue.” Someone raises their hand, a man to my left, and steps forward.

There are a few murmurs of agreement before about half the group starts raising their hands, mumbling, “Me too.”

“Yes, see? If we all believe, then it has to be true. It’s there. I swear,” I say, trying to turn more over to my side.

A few moments later, everyone has their hands up, even the grouch Sofia. Oh, I wish I could take care of her, that she-devil. But, I have to remain calm.

…

A flash of light.

I gasp and jump slightly, whipping around to look.

The…sun. It’s back…It’s back!

It’s far off in the distance but seems to be spreading closer. The whole town and I watch as the light slowly hits everything in its path and changes the landscape's colors.

The grass starts turning green.

The sky starts turning blue.

The tree trunks start turning brown.

The barns start turning red.

The houses start turning all kinds of colors like yellow, red, light green or blue.

My eyes widen in awe as the light finally hits me and slowly, starting from my hand, turns my skin a tanish, whitish color. Then my sleeve starts turning dark blue.

What a coincidence. I have wanted to see the color blue and I happened to have a blue shirt on when the color is first seen.

The people of the town either let out gasps or just a, “Woah…”

I smile and jump off of the water fountain, walking to the open green field beside my house. My yellow house.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, breathing in the fresh air.

“I did it. I brought the colors back, grammy. For you,” I whisper, my head tilting upwards.

I hear a flutter of wings and feel two small pricks on my shoulder. I open my eyes to look.

There is a small red cardinal standing on my shoulder and looking at me.

My grammy always loved cardinals, even without the color. She said she would come back as one.

“I love you, Grammy. I hope to see you soon,” I say softly,

lifting my hand to gently pet the bird,

She nuzzles against my finger and chirps.

Then I smile as the bird takes flight and I feel yellow fill my heart. I am so happy.