A Little Wish

What a disappointment it was to see the people below rejoicing at the upcoming holidays… And in the sky, everything remained the same. No preparations, no holiday bustle. Life sighed softly, looking down from the cloud, and then glanced over her shoulder at the others. — What a shame… We don’t have holidays like humans. Still admiring the beauty beneath her feet, the girl spread her wings, stretched, and then looked at Death, who had been sitting motionless for several minutes. — What do you think of all this? Finally, the blue-haired girl lifted her head. — Hm? Yes, it would be nice to celebrate. Of course, if someone gave a reason for everyone to forget their business and just enjoy the atmosphere of the holiday. Life thought for a moment, but soon her face darkened again with sadness. — And I don’t want that… — her voice trailed off into the silence that followed her words. They were quiet for a while. Then Life broke the silence. — Death, please, let’s go down again. Let’s stretch our wings, and then we’ll just go for a walk. Let’s see if we can find something interesting. Death sighed, adjusting her blue locks, then braided them with a swift motion of her hand. It was clear that she wasn’t particularly inspired by the idea, but Life continued to look at her expectantly, not looking away. — Alright. Let’s go, — Death finally said, standing up. — Just so that nothing bad happens to us. She looked at Life, who had already stepped to the edge of the cloud and spread her wings. For a moment, their shadows covered the entire horizon. Glittering snow lay softly on the pavement as Life and Death stepped onto the ground. Here, in this small town, everything breathed the spirit of Christmas. Bright garlands adorned every house, the laughter of children making snowmen could be heard in the distance, and shop windows beckoned with warmth and comfort. Life was delighted. She lingered at each window, admiring the toys, the glowing candles, and the intricate designs of twigs and ribbons. — How beautiful… It’s amazing how they do all this, — she said, turning to Death. Death didn’t share her enthusiasm. She stayed behind, lightly wrapped in her long cloak, as if the cold might hurt her. Her gaze was thoughtful, her eyes scanning the crowd. — People can put their hearts into such simple things, — she said after a while, stepping closer. — But does it make them happier? Before Life could answer, a sound caught her attention. Around the corner, someone was playing a violin. The melody was sad, but there was a warm, comforting note in it, as if the musician was trying to embrace the world with his playing. — Let’s see who it is, — Life suggested with a smile and hurried toward the sound without waiting for an answer. Death followed, not in a hurry. Around the corner, under a modest streetlamp, stood a young man. His face was barely visible in the shadow of his hood, but his hands, skillfully guiding the bow, spoke volumes. They moved so gracefully… He wasn’t playing for money — there was no hat or charity box nearby. He seemed to be playing just for himself, but passers-by still stopped to listen. Life was mesmerized as she came closer, listening to the melody, enchanted by it. — How beautiful… Death stood a little further back, watching the musician. — Interesting, — she said. — This man has probably been through a lot, judging by his music. But he also sees the beauty in it… Life nodded, not taking her eyes off him. — It’s amazing how something so simple can carry so much meaning, — she said softly. The violinist paused, his bow hovering above the strings, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze. He looked up, catching Life’s gaze, and then, after a brief silence, he continued playing. — Thank you for listening, — he murmured, almost as if speaking to the wind. Life smiled, her heart lifted by his words. She stepped closer, still entranced by the music. — You play beautifully, — she said softly, almost in a whisper. The musician glanced at her, his eyes gleaming with a quiet understanding. — It’s not about playing beautifully, — he said, his voice calm but steady. — It’s about expressing what’s inside. Death’s gaze sharpened as she studied him more closely. After a long pause, she spoke. — What do you express with your music? The man’s eyes met hers for a moment, and then he looked down at his violin, his fingers still moving along the strings. — I express… what I can’t say with words, — he answered quietly. — Pain, hope, and the fleeting beauty of everything. Life’s smile softened as she turned to Death. — Maybe this is the holiday. The music, the moment… it’s a celebration of life, in its own way. Death looked at Life, her expression unreadable for a moment, before she gave a small nod. — Perhaps. — she said, her voice softer than before. They stood in silence as the violinist continued to play, his music blending with the quiet of the winter night. The festive atmosphere of the town, the sound of laughter in the distance, and the shimmering snow all created a sense of peace that settled over them. Life closed her eyes for a moment, letting the music wash over her, while Death stood quietly, her eyes thoughtful. After a while, the violinist finished his song and lowered his violin. He looked at Life and Death, his gaze full of something that felt like understanding, as if he had been waiting for them to find this moment together. — Thank you, — Life said, her voice light and filled with gratitude. The violinist gave a small, fleeting smile. — Thank you for listening. Take care of the moments, — he replied softly, and with that, he turned and walked off into the night. Life watched him go, her wings fluttering lightly behind her. — Well, that was… something, — she said, turning to Death. — I guess sometimes, the holidays are not just about the decorations, the gifts, or the feasts. It’s about moments like this. Death nodded, her gaze distant as she watched the last of the snowflakes fall. — Yes. Moments that pass by, but leave something behind. Life smiled at her companion. — Let’s take a walk then. We still have time. And together, they wandered through the town, beneath the soft snowfall, as the world around them celebrated in its own way.Life led Death down the street, exhaling a little. She tried to look more or less calm, but… it didn’t work. Her nervousness gave everything away. — Death… I want to tell you something, — she said, throwing her hands behind her back and turning to her friend. “It’s… Happy New Year to you. And… I have a gift for you.” Death looked at her questioningly, and then noticed how Life was starting to get nervous, and her own anxiety increased. — Are you… okay? —Death asked, coming closer and hugging the girl by the shoulders. She only took a step back, shaking her head. — No, no, everything is fine. I’m just worried, don’t worry. Here, take it. Life held out a gift — something soft, wrapped in blue wrapping paper with a small green bow. Death, having accepted it, did not immediately dare to open it. When she unwrapped the gift, she found herself in front of a gorgeous, sexy outfit, clearly intended for pleasant evenings. — Oh… You shouldn’t have, — the girl was embarrassed before she walked up to the angel and kissed her right on the tongue, pressing her to herself. She flicked the outfit into her house, pressing Life to herself, deepening the kiss, enjoying this moment. The angel exhaled with a stifled breath, pressed herself against Death, deciding not to move away from her. No one saw them… — And this is my gift for you, angel. Didn’t expect it? Death giggled, stroking the girl’s waist while she awkwardly looked away. And yet, it was a good gift, which the angel did not refuse.