By: G L
The first dawn of the year. A puppy's first bark. Magic was an abstract thing, weaving itself in the most unexpected places.
(Illustration: a silver wind, blowing through the hair of young children playing in the snow, unaware.)
Sammy knew this well, his imagination running wild as he used magic. And he loved using magic. He used it so much he forgot to make friends.
Regardless, the other children tried to talk to him.
"Wow! I love your magic!" "How did you do that?" "Waah, teach me!"
Sammy didn't listen, too busy to take a look around. The other children watched him float over their heads in jealousy.
Eventually, they began to give up on talking to him. Instead, they would scoff at him using his magic for everyday tasks.
"He's just being lazy." One of the boys said.
He told himself that he didn't care, turning around when they started to laugh together without him.
(Illustration: a boy, floating in the air, as other children are on the ground, scoffing up at him.)
It was fine, he thought, sitting back against as he leaned on a tree watching the other children play. Lifting his hands, he made them glow a warm orange.
After all, he had magic.
He never tried to reach out to the other children, sitting on the bench as they ran across the playground. They didn't ask him to join them either, choosing to ignore him when they could.
"Come on, join us!" They begged, pulling at the boy sitting beside Sammy. "We're playing tag!"
The other boy laughed, letting himself be pulled into the crowd.
Sammy just watched them, hands still a warm orange. (A cosy home in the winter, something to keep you warm.)
(Illustration: a boy, staring forlornly down at his glowing hands. The background is hazy and indistinct.)
He looked up at the teacher, who had only finished saying that it was a group project. The other children were already laughing, pulling their friends to them to form groups.
The teacher seemed to notice that Sammy was by himself, pointing him towards a quieter group that was still short one member. They looked over at the teacher, noticing Sammy. One of the girls whispered something to her friend, and both of them giggled.
Cautiously, Sammy approached them, a strand of deep blue hair fading into his black hair. (The rough waves of the ocean, something to be cautious of.)
(Illustration: a side shot, a strand of blue hair, nervously tucked behind the ear of a slouching boy.)
Cupping his hands around the cupcake his parents had packed for his birthday, he watched as the other children celebrated each other's birthdays.
Their warbly, off-tone voices rang out in a depiction of Happy Birthday, making the birthday girl laugh.
Did they know it was his birthday too?
Did they care?
He looked back down at his single, measly cupcake and the empty desks around him.
Sammy's eyes glowed green. (The green-eyed monster living in your heart, something to bring you jealousy.)
(Illustration: Sammy, softly cupping a neat cupcake, mostly in standard colours. The candle is changing colours. His eyes are a bit watery, and his hands seem to be slumped.)
The new student - Anna - was bright, happy and colourful.
But most of all?
They were magical.
The other children crowed and laughed and gathered around the new student.
"Where did you move from?" "What kind of magic can you do?"
She didn't seem to be bothered, answering their questions happily.
Sammy listened to the chant of questions and decided to place his head on his desk and block it all out.
There wasn't any use in being excited about magic.
(Illustration: a crushed cupcake, icing smeared on the wrapping. It's on the ground, forgotten.)
Eventually, all of the other children headed out, leaving the new student to sigh and collapse on their desk. She didn't seem to notice Sammy, slumping onto the desk and beginning to cry. Her tears were a deep shade of blue, almost black.
Startled, Sammy began to rise from his seat. His footsteps don't seem to draw her attention, and she continued to cry.
"What's wrong?" He asked her.
Anna startled, looking up at him. "What?"
"What's wrong?" He repeats, softly.
She looked down at her desk and mumbled something. Sammy caught something about missing home.
Sammy paused for a second. "I'm sure you'll feel better. It's only your first day, so of course, you're feeling nervous. Besides, I'm sure you'll make a bunch of friends soon. They all love your magic."
Anna didn't seem reassured, still looking worried.
"Here, how about this?" She looked back up at him. "I'll be your friend, so now you don't have to worry about not having friends here."
She perked up. "Really?"
Sammy nodded. "Definitely." He wasn't going to let her turn out like him.
She brightened, her eyes lighting up into a bright yellow. "Thank you!"
A friend's first smile, to keep you happy in your darkest times.
The two friends were inseparable, going off to play their own games during their breaks. Sammy's arms were streaked with yellow.
Magic seemed to always give you exactly what you needed in the most mysterious of ways.
(Illustration: a boy and a girl, arm in arm, running through a park, with matching grins on their faces.)