“The city is so pretty at night,” says Bella. Bella, Stephanie, and Rosaline lay in the grass. Hypnotized by the moon. “Hm, you should see the sky in Evergreen.” says Rosaline. Bella and Stephanie turn to Rosaline and look at her funny. “Um, I-I mean Faraway-Vill.” says Rosaline. “I bet it’s beautiful.” says Stephanie. “Yeah.” says Bella. “Hey guys, you all go ahead inside, I just need to go get something.” says Naomi. “Okay.” says Bella. Bella and Stephanie lead the group to their apartment. “Hey Onnie, come with me; I have something to show you,” says Naomi. Naomi takes Onnie up the ramp of the treehouse. “Lovely place you have here,” says Onnie. “Thanks.” says Naomi.

“Do you really live here?” says Onnie. “It’s a long story. Let’s just say it’s the only safe place for me here.” “Ah, here it is!” Naomi moves one floorboard where a hidden book is found. Onnie recognizes the book as one of the first witch spell books. “Ah yes.” Naomi blows off the dust and opens the book. “Where’d you get this from?” asks Onnie. “It was my parents. Look at all these spells. You know I tried some of these once,” says Naomi. “Mmm, here’s one of my favorites: it makes a tiny ball of light.”

“That’s cool, Naomi, but why are you showing me this?” says Onnie. “Oh well, I just thought you would think it’s cool since you want to be a witch too.” “Pft, want to be. I am one.” Onnie turns around to face the moonlight. “Hmm, a dream, am I right?” “What?” says Onnie. “Well, yeah.” “You can pretend all you want, but we both know magic’s not really real right?” says Naomi. Onnie stands not saying a word. “Sorry for killing the mood. It’s just hard nowadays.” says Naomi. “It’s fine, I get it. What’s going on, Naomi?” “Well, have you ever felt alone? Or like the world is just out to get you.”

“Yes, many times. I mean, we all feel lonely sometimes. But we can’t let that ruin the good things that happening now. But I get what you’re feeling, Naomi.” says Onnie. “Do you!? Do you really know how I feel!?” Naomi stares at Onnie, waiting for a response. “Sorry, I’m really sorry for lashing out. I just… I don’t know. I’m just sad right now.”

“Tell me.” “Huh?” “Tell me how you’re feeling, Naomi.” “I shouldn’t.” “But you want to,” says Onnie. “This is a lot but, my parents died in those building. After some drunk guy set my building on fire. They were the best. They would always put others first. Even before their own lives. That’s why they didn’t make it out in time,” says Naomi.

“Onnie, do you know how it feels to have police officers take you away from your friends and try to explain to you what happened? Try to explain to you why you can never see your parents again. To explain to you why there taking you into this strange new building with many other lonely kids just like you. Do you know how that feels? And then you escape that building. Because they treat you like a mistake and nobody wants to be around you, even though you’re just like them.”

“Yeah, you reunite with your friends, but now you have to make a living by yourself. Do you know how hard it is to teach yourself how to read, how to write, and how to survive on your own? Do you?” asks Naomi.

“Sometimes it’s nice to escape to a fantasyland instead of wondering what I’m gonna eat or if my things are gonna be there when I wake up. It is hard sometimes to just sit there and relax. Because all I can think about is if I’m gonna make it another year. Hard, that’s all it’s ever been. I worry so much about if I’m gonna get kicked out of my home that really doesn’t belong to me. And here I am doing nothing to help myself. I get kicked out of every job I try, ha. Who wants to work with someone that looks like me? Like it’s my fault that I’m not from here. I’m so pathetic, spilling my business to a stranger.” Naomi starts to tear up.

“Sorry, it’s just hard sometimes, you know.” “Naomi, are you sure magic’s not real?” Onnie asks. “Onnie, I know you’re trying to make me feel better, but… Hey, what are you?”

Onnie turns around with a ball of light in her hands. “Is that…Beaming light?” “Hey Naomi, are you scared of heights?” “What?” Onnie pulls out her broom and shakes it like a glow stick to grow it to full size. “What’s going on?” Naomi asks. “Come on, I want to show you how an actual witch does it.” Onnie runs down the ramp with Naomi in hand. “Sit like this and hold on tight,” says Onnie. “Okay, now don’t fall, got it.” Onnie flies up close to the moon. “I can’t believe this is happening!” says Naomi. “I don’t see why not. Now watch this.” Onnie stands up on her broom and points at the moon. “Okay, Naomi, I need you to laugh as loud as you can.” “Why?” says Naomi. “Just do it!”

Onnie and Naomi cackle so loud that basically everyone in the area can hear. Onnie then casts my little shining star over the moon, creating a huge star firework over the moon with a mini one flying off in different directions. “They’ve been out for a bit, haven’t they?” says Bella. The group hears fireworks sounds outside the window.

“What was that?” says Stephanie. Everyone peers outside the window to see Onnie and Naomi flying high in the sky. “Ugh, come on Onnie.” says Jewel. “Well, I guess the secret’s out.” says Jasper. “What secret?” Bella and Stephanie say in confusion. The friends smile and laugh at their confused faces. “You see, Naomi, don’t you see how great this feels?” Onnie says as she continues to giggle. Naomi is to in shock to answer. She continues to stare at the moon.

“You know you can do this too,” says Onnie. “What?” Naomi looks to Onnie. “You could come home with us.” “Really!?” says Naomi. “Yeah, I mean, it’s better than being sad and living in fear all the time, right?” Onnie stares into Naomi’s eyes. They sparkle with excitement. “Oh, thank you Onnie!” Naomi hugs Onnie, startling her. “Thank you.” “Oh, stop it. Let’s get down before we slip and fall. You have a lot of packing to do,” says Onnie. “Not really.” The two giggle and float back to the ground.

THE NEXT DAY

***

“See, I just knew there was something special about you all.” says Bella. “Do you have everything?” says Onnie. “Yep, I just wish I can take my friends with me.” says Naomi. “They can come with us, you know.” “Nah, they have their own lives here I had nothing going for me. But today, that is all going to change!” “Well, here.” Onnie put a spell on Naomi’s phone.

“Humans communicate with this thing, right? With this you can still talk to your friends.” “Thanks Onnie.” Mortimer appeared from behind Bush. “Hello?” “Oh, hey Morty.” says Naga. “I was looking forever. Are you sure it’s okay to be out here?” Mortimer hears a screaming. “Oh, no.” “Your good.” says Naga. “They are real!” Stephanie shouts. “Excuse me sir, we have things to ask you,” says Bella.

“So, when you get there, you of course need to see my treehouse,” says Onnie. “Yes.” says Naomi. “Also enroll in class.” “Yes! Oh but. Where will I live?” “Hmm, oh, I know, you can live in Nana’s old dorm. She’s like my caretaker. Put it to good use,” says Onnie.

“So, you’re kinda like this, one guy from a video game. Do you know by any chance?” asks Stephanie. “Let me see. Oh, he’s red just like my cousin.” says Mortimer. “OH, MY GOSHH!” Bella and Stephanie shout. “Okay, Step and Bella, it’s time to go,” says Naomi. Naomi hugs them bye and the step through the portal. “Bye! Send pics for me!” says Stephanie. “I will!” says Naomi. “And have fun!” Bella says.

“We’ll miss you!”