Feathers in the Moonlight

(Kristen)

Friday at 5:00 in the afternoon, the sun was starting to set. Its fire like color was beginning to spread all over the sky. The heaven then was over- powered by the setting sun, with its striking shades which were painted above the earth.

Meanwhile, Leonie and her best friend Claire were busy writing their assignment in Math at the Student Center when Bhea arrived and approached their table. She was holding a piece of paper which she used while waving at them.

"Guys, look at this. I think this is the answer to your problem Leonie." said Bhea while sitting beside Leonie. She was excited to show the pamphlet to the two girls. Then she handed it to Leonie who got curious on the content.

"Story- Blog Competition? I didn't have laptop or computer desktop to use." Leonie shrugged her shoulders and returned her attention instead to her notebook. She filled it with the formula in Algebra.

"Oh com' on, Leonie. I know you needed this badly." Claire wrapped her right arm on Leonie's shoulder.

"Okay, why don't you use uhhmm….." Bhea said while her hand grabbed something inside her bag. When the search was over, she gave it to Leonie.

It was an old quill, a feather used for writing.

"Are you serious? Is this still functioning?" Leonie was amused by the quill. She played it, her fingers rubbed the soft feather.

"I think so. I just bought that yesterday in a garage sale." explained Bhea. She was remembering what the vendor told her.

"Make a wish before you use it, but only you must hear what you wish for. If your wish will be granted, then follow what it will ask you to do. That's what I only remember." said Bhea sincerely.

"Isn't weird? How can you use it, Leonie, if you don't have ink to fill it." Claire pointed at the bottom part of the quill. It was empty and seemed unused for a long time.

"Yah, right." Leonie was convinced it will not be used anymore. The quill was already antique and there are a lot of pen out there to use.

"If I cannot use it, shall I have it for display, Bhea?" Leonie was still holding the quill and very much interested to have it as a souvenir.

"Sure, after all I will really give that to you as a gift coz It's your birthday tomorrow, girl!" giggled Bhea and kissed Leonie on her cheek.

"Happy birthday, best friend." Claire hugged her best friend and gave her also a kiss.

"Thank you, guys."

In the corner of Leonie's eyes, tears began to congeal and fell. It flowed down on her rosy cheeks. She was overwhelmed with their gestures. These two were the only people who really believed in her ability as a writer. She remembered her father who didn't like her writing, and her mom who was insisting her to enroll in nursing school.

"Well, where are we going to celebrate it?" Bhea tried to change the atmosphere when she felt that Leonie was feeling down.

"Oh, cheer up Leonie. Let's celebrate your 18th birthday." Claire also insisted to change the mood.

The three left the school canteen and went to their favorite place, Pizza Casa, where their friendship started because of pizza and from then on, they always celebrated birthdays eating pizza, tacos, and spaghetti meatballs.

II

"Happy birthday! Sweet Leonie." Her Aunt Charrie gave her a kiss.

She opened her eyes, the morning sun struck her face as her Aunt tied the curtains of the windows.

"Thanks, Tita." She rubbed her eyes and snuggled onto the blanket. She had a hard time waking up in the morning. Since it was her day, she would like to spend it on her bed.

"Aren't you going to celebrate your birthday, Leonie? You'd better get up there and spend the day with your friends." encouraged her Aunt.

"We already celebrated it yesterday, Tita. All I want is to sleep all day." Her eyes remained closed and she hugged her favorite pillow to signal that she would never get up.

"What about your parents, aren't they going to call them?"Her Aunt was now pulling her blanket so she could get up.

When she heard about her parents, she straightened her body and opened her eyes. This time they were looking at the blank ceiling of her room.

It was only last night that she had a conversation with her parents. They were in abroad for more than five years. Being the only child, she was left under the care of her Aunt Charrie who chose to stay single.

"Mom, I really wanted to become a writer. I wanted to be like J.K Rowling or Nicholas Sparks. Can't you understand how I feel." Her voice was still in control. She neither shout nor whisper, but it was full of hate and pain.

"No, Leonie. You don't understand. We want you to have a better future and you cannot have a good life in writing. There are many writers out there, but only few are remembered." Her Dad was discouraging her decision.

"If you will choose writing, then might as well know that we are not going to give you any centavo to pursue your disgusting dream, Leonie!" Her mother was determined not to support her career path after graduating in Senior High.

Tears fell down, she remembered her shattered dream. Leonie knew her parents were not joking, that they meant what they said.

"Are you okay, child?" Her Aunt sat beside her bed, then brushed her fingers on her long shiny black hair. She always did that to calm Leonie.

"We already talked last night. Let's not mind them anyway." The sound of her dull voice echoed through the walls of her room.

Leonie decided to get up. Her feet looked for her sleepers. Then those feet took her to the bathroom. She removed her underwear and let her body drenched through the running water from the shower faucet. She stayed there for an hour to cool her mind. She wanted to take away the hurt and frustration that crept to her heart.