The Butterflies of Meadow Hill Manor by Stefanie Parks

Author:Stefanie Parks
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Children's fantasy fiction
Publisher: Troubador Publishing
Published: 2023-11-28T00:00:00+00:00

Eleven

I shivered a little at the Butterbonefly image. This one had always made me feel slightly nervous and now was no different. What would the binding of these butterflies feel like? I placed my hands on the sill for the last time and croaked out the word, “Butterbonefly.”

And then it was done. The butterflies swirled around our tower room en-masse, an excited tornado of moving colours. Their enthusiasm was palpable and as they headed to the door I found myself running behind them, swept along in their happiness which I felt in every fibre of my being. Down the stairs we went, me leaping them two at a time, the butterflies flying helter-skelter around me. Along the corridor and through the kitchen I ran, the mass of flying colour almost hiding me from my aunt’s view. Through the washroom and out into the dark, snowy garden, arms flying free, butterflies all around me and a sudden strange feeling around my mouth. I put my fingers to my lips and realised I was smiling. It had been so long since I’d smiled that the sensation felt peculiar. What was happening to me? I felt almost happy.

I stopped myself moving suddenly and the butterflies, sensing my sudden change in emotion, slowed their pace also. I brought my arms back to my sides, slowly, deliberately. I took a deep breath in and out, turned on my heels sharply and walked back into the house. What was I thinking? I wasn’t here to have fun, to enjoy myself, to be running around, smiling and feeling happy. No, it wouldn’t do. What was the point when she… well, it just wouldn’t do. Just not right.

Back in the house I dragged my mattress back to my original bedroom after slamming the door on the butterflies and the tower room. I lay back on my mattress and tried to focus on breathing. I was angry with myself. What had I been thinking? I didn’t deserve happiness or smiling or even talking for that matter. I buried my head into the pillows and started my breathing routine. In and out. Back to my world of silence. Don’t think about anything else.

It had been hard enough to ignore the constant noises of the butterflies when I first arrived. Now that they were bound to me it was almost impossible. Before it was just their noises, the chinks and crashes in the night-time, the odd eerie light and the strange dreams. Now, as well as the noises and dreams, I had to try and ignore the knowledge and the feeling too. It was a distinct change, an inexplicable link. As well as being able to see them I was also constantly aware of them, deep down within my very core I felt them. They were always with me, a continuous burning presence. Each type of butterfly had a slightly different sensation and I found I was able to feel them all at once or focus in on a single group or butterfly.

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