“My queen? You have a strange look in your eyes. Are you unwell?I was just... remembering.”

“Jocelyn. You’ll keep your eyes on me, Princess. I want you to remember this. From now on whenever you look into my eyes I want you to remember how well we fit together.”

“She is here amongst us, but she is not alone,” one of the pixie dust angels told the queen of the woods.“And?” the queen demanded.“She is with some boy. Both look strange, if you ask me.”“Strange, how?” the queen asked.“Strange. You know they don’t look as we do.” “How do they look?” The queen turned and looked at the pixie angel with her purple eye that sat in the middle of her forehead. “I don’t know. They have things like the little people in Vanduesa.”“What things might you be referring to?” the queen’s voice rose impatiently. “You know those things that the little people get around with.” The queen laughed, revealing yellowing teeth. “Oh, the things the little people in Vanduesa refer to as legs.”“That’s it.” The pixie angel did an excited flip, and then nodded her head.”

“Daddy, you would say, look at my braids. Look at the worst bug bite ever. Look at my handstand, my eggroll dive, my finger painting. Look at my splinter, my spelling list, my somersault, the toad I found. Look at the present I made you, the grade I got, the acceptance letter. Look at the diploma, the ultrasound, your granddaughter. I couldn’t possibly remember all the things you’ve asked me to look at. I just remember that you asked.”

“It's strange. Hearing you say my name.""I can say it again if you'd like.""No, I'll remember just fine.”

“I think you have bits of Primord in your hair...And you look …bloody...You look a mess, Halíka...But you are still the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on.”