The circus was in full swing. There were twinkling lights and glowing fireflies hovering in the air. There were striped tents, each one filled with wonders that differ from one another. Other tents featured circus performers, while others were just meant to be explored. Acrobats littered the walkway and tricks were seen here and there. Everything was a flash of color and the smell of caramel and popcorn was heavy in the air. The world looked suddenly better when you enter the circus, for inside it, you won't be able to distinguish reality from a dream.
The girl and the boy were strolling through the circus, hand in hand, sharing chocolate dipped strawberries and hot cocoa. They were oblivious to the people around them, for all that was important to them was the other. The boy was laughing and the girl was twirling, her skirt billowing around her. They were having the time of their lives and one would know happiness just by looking at them.
They stopped at each performance that littered the walkway, clapping loudly at each and every one of them. They explored each tent, the girl marvelling at everything she saw while the boy looks at her with a small smile on his face. One tent featured a magician that can conjure fluffy white bunnies out of the top of her hat then make them float in front of the audience's eyes. Another was a tent full of snow, where the boy and girl threw snow balls at each other and made snow men for the children surrounding them.
They watched everything the circus has to offer, all the while they held on tightly to each other.
It was past midnight when the people visiting the circus dwindled by the hour. The girl and the boy stayed despite the time.
A single tent they haven't already went into stood before them. They went in and saw the tallest tree they had ever seen. The branches spiral out of view, each one outfitted with bottles of glasses, where wishes and dreams were contained. The girl tugs on the boy's hand and together they run for the stairs that spirals around the trunk of the tree. Up they went, stopping here and there to peer into the glass bottles. Each one giving them a vision of the person who wished on it. Each bottle showed them the dreams of the people who tied the bottle to the branches.
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They went out of the tent, dazed with all the hope they glimpsed inside it. It was only an hour before sunrise, and so they decided to wait near the lake on the outskirts of the circus. Out they went and headed down to the lake.
The lake was surrounded by grass and nothingness. There was nothing to be seen around it but endless bloom. The boy brandished a blanket with a bow and spread it on the ground, allowing them to lie down on it while they waited for the sun to rise.
The boy pulled the girl close to him and let her sleep while they wait for sunrise. He could feel her heart beating and let the steady thump calm him to sleep. He was falling fast asleep when he was shaken awake by the girl.
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The girl kept shaking him, telling him to hurry up. The boy then asked her what's the matter when the girl stood up and pulled the boy to his feet. He raised an eyebrow when she pulled him close and let her arms encircle his neck. A last dance, the girl said.
And so the boy reluctantly puts his hands on the girl's waist, and together they swayed to a tune only they could hear. All the while the sky turns a shade of different colors, lighting up the whole world in flames.
They didn't talk again after that, but the words hung in the air between them.
They will never forget each other.
Written by Camille Ong. Got your own story to tell? Drop us an email at candymagazine @gmail.com! We'd love to hear what you have to say. If you're lucky, you just might get published in this space, too! Please indicate if you want to remain anonymous.
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