Teaser draft

[The night sky looked happier tonight…I wish you could see it…wherever you are.]1

Ring ring! I heard the phone ring in the bedroom. Grandma and I were sleeping in mommy's room since she wasn't feeling well and she needed to stay with the doctors. When grandma answered the phone, she didn't seem too happy about it and she started taking out my fox onesie out of the dresser. Once we both got dressed, we went into this big room. It was pretty empty but there were three grown ups, I guess they had pretty important jobs, that were staring at us. For some reason, something made me really upset and I climbed into my grandma's lap. I didn't like crying because my nose would get really stuffy.

[I have to go now, I know you aren't ready to grow up this fast but…you're going to be okay.]

  The doctors in the rooms made it really hard to stop crying. I knew something was wrong with mommy for a very long time…and I didn't feel happy anymore. I don't know why but even grandma wasn't smiling anymore unless she was looking at me or wiping my tears... I was only 5 years old but…I stopped crying when I got to hold the really cute duck plushie the nurse gave me. It had a hat on that was pink, purple and uhm…the other color that's not purple. When I saw mommy laying in bed, I started to run to her but grandma grabbed my arm. I didn't understand why but it made me upset that I couldn't sit on the bed with mommy. 

One of the doctors came into the room and I remember him! He was mommy's doctor that helped her get fixed, he always had a little puppet in his coat pocket! I think mommy and the doctor really liked each other because sometimes he would come over and watch movies, play with me, read me bedtime stories. I called him "Daddy" on accident but mommy and the doctor didn't care. So when no one is around, I call him daddy. Mommy said my real daddy went somewhere…I think she said he went to look for fairies so I could have more play friends!

[My sweet girl…Mommy isn't going to come home.]

[Why? I want to give her huggies…]

[Well, mommy is going on an adventure…sometimes we have to go on these adventures and this one is one she can't come back from…okay?]

[…Was mommy ma-]

[No…god no! She's just not coming back…Come give daddy a hug before grandma takes you home…You know my little friend here hates when children aren't in bed at this time.]

[…If mommy comes back…can you give her a bazillion huggies?]

He gave me a hug with a smile on his face. Sometimes he didn't say anything when there was a question but, I like that about daddy…best daddy ever!

  After a bit, grandma took me back home, she didn't seem very happy but no one is happy when their sleep is interrupted. So, I go back to my room, it has glow in the dark stars on the ceiling, giant beanbag chairs and a lot of blankets! Before getting into bed, I always have to check for monsters. I didn't see monsters in the closet, dresser, bookshelf or in the hallway bathroom. I did see something glowing from under my bed so…I grabbed Mors so we could scare the monsters away together! The light under the bed looked pretty! It was like a sorbet swirl, pink, orange and green! I also heard mommy singing…it was my favorite song too…maybe mommy needed help with her adventure? A lot of good guys always have a friend or uhm…they just have friends. Many…many friends and many many meanies. Mors and I went into the light and there was a loud WOOSH, I felt so tired and cold…I closed my eyes and when I woke up, I was laying in a pile of snow. My eyelashes were nearly frozen solid, and my lips were blue. I looked in my hand and sighed in relief to know I caught it. I decided to wander around the place and after a while, I stumbled upon my goose plushie. I named him Mors because he came with a cute cloak! Mors lifted his head and looked at me.

[Oh, you finally woke up. I was worried you were nothing but a little popsicle, what a relief! You know your mother is looking for you, right? It's almost bedtime.]

[Oh…I didn't know mommy was looking for me. Mors, do you know where she is? I'm really cold...]

  Mors honked a few times, making me giggle for quite some time.  The two of us walked around in the snow and my charm started glowing. I knew it could glow in the dark but, this light was something much different. It was much brighter than that so when nightfall came, I was very happy to see the charm was still glowing. A safe journey to finally figure out where mommy is. Mors eventually put me on his back so I could sleep. I don't think Mors was ever bigger than my torso but…I won't complain. He's just a giant, fluffy goose and that means I can give him even more hugs when we go to sleep! 

[Darling, did you fall asleep?]

As much as I wanted to refute, I didn't say anything. I was tired, cold, and hungry. Mors was always there to comfort me…especially when the kids at school would bully me for having weird legs. My right leg near my hip is weird so I walk with a limp sometimes, mommy always told me it made me her extra special starfish. 

[Hm…I guess they did fall asleep…precious.]

  I woke up to the sound of birds chirping, the bees were buzzing and chattering about where the best pollen is around the meadow. I always liked gardens because mommy would tell me that little fairies lived in gardens. She also told me that if I ever found a mushroom, I shouldn't bother with it because a fairy might use it as a house. Before I knew it, Mors stopped at a little cabin covered in moss, vines, and maybe a few flowers. It didn't look like the one's I've seen in my storybooks at home but, maybe the inside will have a nice fairy princess inside. Mors and I walked inside the cabin, and it looked clean! The table was made of oak, and it had plates of food on it. Whatever was on the table smelled really good and I wanted to eat everything on the plate! I walk to Mors and gently pat his wing to get his attention.

[Mors, can I eat the food on the table? I'm really hungry…]

[Dear, I don't think it would be polite to eat food someone else made. If we find someone that lives here, we can ask them, okay?]

  Although Mors is my best friend in the whole wide world, I really hated him for saying that. It doesn't make sense for someone to make food and then leave…So, while he was looking in a different room of the cabin, I pushed a stool over to the table. The amount of delicious food made my mouth water! There were eggs, steak, rice, oranges, sushi, and a lot of cupcake with rainbow sprinkles on top. It was clear that whoever made the cupcakes was a good baker. Rainbow sprinkles are the best sprinkles on all cookies, ice cream, and cupcakes; Mors doesn't like sprinkles but, he likes orange slices, so I forgive him. I took a bite out of a red velvet cupcake that had extra sprinkles on top. It wasn't too sweet, but the inside was filled with dark chocolate, which made it a bazillion times better! Just as I was about to take another bite,  the cabin started shaking, the walls began to quiver and crack, leaving the once clean floor covered in wooden pieces and powder.

Mors quickly grabbed me with his beak and ran outside of the cabin before the entire thing collapsed. When everything seemed to have calmed down, the once broken cabin turned into a tall humanoid puppet. It had on a white coat, a mask, and it held a sharp spear in its right hand. We started running as fast as we could, but the puppet started to catch up to us.

  [It's time to come home child…That goose is nothing more than a traitor and a delicious roast!]

[Leave Mors alone! He's my best friend and he wouldn't hurt anyone!]

[Tsk. Children are so naïve…One minute they're happy and the next they're crying. That goose isn't a good friend and if you're a good little one, you'd come play with me instead!]

We started running faster, jumping over rocks and throwing sticks at the puppet. By the time Mors and I got to a cliff, we were out of breath. I don't think my little legs were meant to run for such a long time. I wish I could be a mermaid since swimming is much faster than running and my legs won't hurt! The puppet laughed at us and then I saw her. I saw a woman with large wings holding a sword in her left hand. She pointed her sword  at the puppet.

[Leave my child and Mors out of this!]

[So it was you who asked him to bring the child…You always do this! You can't keep tak-]

She punctured the puppet in its heart. A few tears went down the puppet's face until it fell over with a THUD. I want to feel bad but…maybe the puppet just wanted a friend too. The woman put her sword on her back as she walked towards Mors and I; in that moment, I realized who she was…

[M-Mommy…? Mommy!]

[Hello sweetie, I'm glad your home. How about I read you a bedtime story?]

  Without a second thought, I ran to my mommy. She walked with Mors and I through a forest where I told her about all the events that happened. I really like the way mommy smiles when she hears something she likes, it makes me happy too. She had soft caramel skin, and her hair was in a giant braided bun. Once we exited the forest, there was our old apartment. I guess Mors was taking too long getting back home and mommy got impatient. Anyway, she picked me up and placed me in my bed. My bed had a lot of pink and brown pillows, plush throw blankets, and a few dinosaur plushies. She started reading my favorite story about a prince and a housekeeper who couldn't love each other. I didn't really understand it, but that didn't matter. I finally found mommy and the two of us could play forever! As I drifted to sleep, mommy was still reading, I held Mors with my arms and nuzzled my head into his neck gently. I was happy again…I couldn't wait to go and find grandma so I can tell her about my day with Mors and Mommy. In the middle of the night, Mors went off somewhere with two flowers in his beak. One flower was a Witch Hazel and the other one was a little daisy. He placed those flowers in front of two stones. The smaller stone had a little jellyfish engraved into it.

[I'm glad we found your mommy, young friend. Now be good and get some rest. We can play again another time…]

  The puppet sat up with a hole in his heart. He didn't like when the woman would take children into this world, let alone use their favorite toy as a way to secure their permanent visit. He slowly stood up and used his spear to make a portal, as he stepped in, he looked like a normal person with a white coat and a medial mask. He made his way through the long frigid halls where the child was in bed, holding their goose plush. The monitor wasn't on and there was nothing but sorrow in his heart as he covered the child with a white blanket.

[It's okay little one, daddy will find another way to help you. Just get some rest.]