“We should have brought that yellow cloud, you know. I never thought I’d hear my stomach growl this much,” complained the firefly.

“Just a little more, Ben. My stomach is complaining, too,” answered the boy. “I’m just glad this pink cloud can still keep us afloat over water. Just imagine if it suddenly dissolves.”

“It can do that?” the firefly asked, feeling more dismayed than ever.

“I–I don’t know, I just thought–look! I think I can see something,” the boy suddenly exclaimed.

“I hope it’s not a shark or something like that,” the firefly replied before finally fainting from hunger.

“I wonder where they came from,” whispered a voice so fragile and sweet that it could only come from a fairy or a lark. “I just hope you’re alright,” it echoed further with such kindness and concern that strength soon returned to the boy.

“Yes–yes, I think so,” was all that the boy could say as he gazed upon the most beautiful creature he has ever seen. She was no fairy or lark, but she looked like someone who should have had her own wings.

“I have already called friends to help you. Consider this as home while you are here.”

“Thank you. It’s so kind of you,” replied the boy.

She uttered no reply, but the smile that escaped from her sad eyes was enough for the boy to understand and follow her.

It was a strange land. But for the first time in a long time, he felt at peace. As the moon shone through the window of his room that night, he remembered nothing of his worries. The thoughts that filled his mind came only from the present time: the rhythmic sound of the crashing waves, the briny scent of the sea, the cool breeze kissing him good night. Before he slept, he even thought he heard a fairy singing nearby. Hers was a sweet and gentle lullaby calming his nerves, renewing his strength, bringing him back to a time when there was neither hunger nor thirst nor fear.

In the morning, the sound of chimes awakened him. Looking around, he saw that the firefly was still asleep. He thought that it would take a longer time for his friend to rejuvenate his little body. As he tried to rise from bed, he saw a fog enter the room. This fog was unlike anything he has ever known. Though it looked quite ordinary, it gave off a scent that reminded him of the most fragrant flowers he has ever smelled!

“I’ve noticed that there is a lot of fog in here,” said the boy to the maiden.

“Yes, especially in the morning. You may have noticed that they smelled good, too!”

“Yes, it was wonderful. I almost thought I was still dreaming. I wondered if I was already awake when I heard those chimes.”

“Oh, that was Robert. By the way, do you think your friend will wake up soon?” the maiden asked, trying to change the topic.

“I think he will. But...let’s go back to Robert. So you mean to say that he was the one who played with those chimes?” the boy persisted.

“Oh, no. Robert does not play with chimes. He...he sings like it!” the maiden replied.

“What? Is that true?” asked the boy in amazement.

“Yes, he really sings like a chime. You see, everybody here...well, almost everybody sounds great when they sing. Would you like to hear them?”

The maiden then took the boy to Martha who sounds like a piano. After a small demonstration, they went to Eddy who sounds like a violin. They also went to Jake who sounds like a trumpet!

“I wouldn’t have believed you had I not heard them myself!” the boy exclaimed.

“Now I guess you believe me,” answered the maiden.

“Yes, but...there is one thing I’m really curious about,” the boy said as he saw the maiden look far away into the sea. “I wonder how you...how you sound like when you sing! Somehow I know it would be wonderful because I’m really amazed by your voice even when you speak. May I–may I hear you sing?”

“Thank you,” the maiden replied with eyes almost yielding to tears, “but I couldn’t sing as the rest. A while ago, I told you that almost everyone here sings great. Well, almost everyone except for me. I apologize sincerely. I–I cannot grant your request.”

“But...but I heard you singing last night!” the boy said. “At first I thought it was a fairy, but now I’m sure that it was you.”

“You must be mistaken!” the maiden was taken aback. “All I did was utter useless melodies,” she said as she picked up some seashells, each one with a corresponding musical note when triggered by the slightest touch.

“That was not useless,” answered the boy with sincerity. “It may not have sounded like a piano or a chime or a violin...it may not have sounded like anything else, but it was wonderful, and I’m not kidding you. Has anyone else heard you sing?”

“Oh, no! They would only laugh at me. It’s already a shame that I couldn’t sing like them,” the maiden replied as she inspected the shells.

“I’m not an expert in music, but I think that being different is nothing to be ashamed of. You may not sound like the rest, but for me, you are really wonderful and unique! If they could only hear you as I do...like I’ve heard you last night...I’m sure they’d want you to join them in singing every day.”

The little boy picked up a seashell and said, “Look here...this shell is unique. I think I could gather all the seashells in the world and I would still fail to find another one like this. As beautiful as this. In the same way, I think that’s how you are. If–if it would not be too much, may I...may I hear you sing again?”

Looking at the sincere eyes of the boy before her, the maiden felt something within her heart. She felt she could trust him. She felt she could not refuse his request. Slowly, she dropped the seashells she picked, and she looked towards the sea. “Alright, little boy. Just for you...” she said with a different kind of sparkle in her eyes.

She paused for a while, as if to gather all her thoughts and her feelings, and then she sang. She sang so beautifully that even the birds that flew nearby paused for a while to listen.

“That was wonderful!” the boy said as he clapped.

“Do you really think so?” asked the maiden.

“Yes, yes of course!” said the boy as he held her hand in assurance.

“Thank you. I wish you were always here so someone could appreciate my songs.”

“Maybe I can stay for a while,” the boy replied with a grin.

“Stay here forever so I shall never be sad again!” the maiden exclaimed as she hugged the little boy.

Many months passed, and the boy has never been so happy. The boy had been the maiden’s sole audience, but that seemed to be more than enough. Her sad eyes now had a twinkle of joy, which made her even more beautiful.

One day, however, they were unaware that other people were nearby. The maiden sang so clearly and sweetly that all who heard her were enchanted throughout her song–the kind that lingers, the kind you’d want to listen to over and over again. The maiden has finally found her voice and everyone was blessed as they listened to her each and every day!

As to the boy, he knew that his role there as her sole audience was finally over. After one last song, he bade her farewell and he carried on his search.