IMANI

AUGUST 2019

Chapter 1:The Way Back
​

Imani once knew her way to the garden, but she’d forgotten. The path zigzagged before her, twisting and turning in dizzying patterns.
     She stopped, sat down on the soft, mossy earth, and closed her eyes.
     “Where is the magic?” she asked herself,  “I can’t feel it.”
     She lay down on her belly and buried her face in her hands. Tears dripped onto her arms, dampening her sleeves.
     Imani opened her eye just as a cloud was covering the sun. She buried her face in her hands again. A gust of wind rattled the branches nearby, a chill running up her spine. And then all was still.
     “Imani, is that you?”
     A familiar voice called her name.
     “Imani?”
     She looked up.
     “Ila! She jumped to her feet and ran to her dear friend. Ila wrapped her great silver wings around Imani and hugged her. Her scales shimmered in the returning sunlight. Her long, powerful tail swished from side to side.
     “So, you were the cloud covering the sun!” said Imani.
     “Yes, sorry,” Ila replied. “It was only for a moment. My wings have grown so big that they’re sometimes a bit hard to manage. You’ve grown, too, I see! You still have your long, golden hair and blue eyes and freckles, only you’re taller. I’m so glad to see you. Welcome back!
     “Thank you,” said Imani. “I’m so glad to be back!”
     “I’ve missed you, Imani, Ila told her.
     Her name echoed in the air.
     “Imani”, she repeated “Imani,” speaking her name like her grandfather used to, calling to herself.
     It was then that she remembered her dream:
 
 
 
Stay tuned……
​