Work Text:
Haven Point, Nevada, 2017
Daniel had got permission from reverend mother Lisbeth to play outside. He had finally finished his homework and was dying to get some fresh air. He hesitated a bit before heading to the playground, hoping there wouldn’t be too many people. He wanted some peace and quiet.
Thankfully there was only one person in the playground. Sarah Lee was in one of the swings, trying to propel herself without success. Daniel was happy to find only her there. Of all the kids in that place, she was the nicest. When he arrived with Jake he was alone and scared and felt so guilty and she cheered him up playing with him. She had a special ability to make him forget his troubles. Also, when they celebrated his birthday she gave him a drawing of them together as a gift. She treated him as if she had known him forever, not like a stranger. After everything that had happened to Sean and him… he needed some kindness, even if he felt that he didn’t deserve it.
Sarah Lee noticed him when he approached and greeted him cheerfully.
"Hi, Daniel!"
"Hi Sarah! Eh... Do you want any help?"
"Eh... yeah, I think I need it." She chuckled nervously, blushing a bit. "Do you mind pushing the swing for me? Just a little?"
"Sure..."
"Thank you so much!"
The boy stood behind her and pushed the swing softly. He didn't want to hurt her. Little by little, she gained speed. And Sarah Lee almost flew, high in the sky…
Daniel sat down in the other swing and swang himself slowly.
"I wish I could swing all by myself…" Sarah said. "I don't like bothering others…"
"You're not a bother," he assured her.
"How did you learn to swing yourself, Daniel?"
"My brother taught me…"
"That's awesome. I wish my brother did that too… he doesn't seem to like swings much… but I'm so happy he's back."
I wish my brother could be back too…
His thought must have been reflected on his face, because Sarah Lee stopped swinging and looked at him more seriously. She realized maybe she shouldn't have mentioned that. She felt the need to apologize.
"Daniel… I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up. I'm so sorry about what happened to you. I truly hope you can be happy with us."
Daniel shook his head and gave her a little smile. "It's okay. I hope so too."
He grabbed the swing.
"Let's swing. I can teach you if you want."
"Really? That would be awesome, thanks!"
Daniel explained to her how she needed to move the body and the legs to impulse herself ahead. She obeyed and got better gradually.
"You just need practice. And if you want, you can jump off the swing, it's really cool," Daniel said before letting go of the swing and jumped ahead, landing safely on the ground.
Sarah was in awe. "I think I would never dare to do that…"
"You can try," Daniel encouraged her. "It really feels like flying. If you fall, I will hold you with my powers."
"C-can you really do that?"
"Yes!"
Sarah took a deep breath, let go of the swing and jumped ahead. The landing didn't look good, so Daniel used his powers to hold her and prevent the hard fall, almost making her fly for real, before letting her safely on the ground.
"Woah!" She exclaimed.
"Are you okay?" Daniel asked worriedly.
"Yeah! Yeah, think you! That was... That was awesome! You really have a miraculous gift."
"I'm not that sure..."
"You saved me! That was a miracle!"
"I guess it was." Daniel smiled shyly.
"I felt like flying for a moment, you know? I'd love to be able to fly... Like Peter Pan! Have you watched that movie?"
"Yeah... A long time ago..." It felt like a lifetime...When his father lived... and Sean... They watched many movies together, including Disney classics. He loved Dumbo, Pinocchio, The Lady and the Tramp…
I miss Mushroom… I miss all of them…
He didn't want to think about that right now.
"I used to watch it before... Before we came to Haven Point," Sarah Lee continued. "I've always wanted to fly since then. I envy the birds. If I were a bird, I would be able to see the world. I'm happy here, but sometimes… I wish I could visit more places..."
She looked so… yearning. Daniel had an idea. He could grant that wish to her…
"I could... Kinda make you fly, if you want..."
"Really? Can you lift people up so long?"
"I think I can lift almost anything for a while. Well, except for myself. Do you wanna try?"
"Yeah!"
"Do you trust me?"
Sarah nodded.
Daniel offered his hand to her.
"I think it's better if you take my hand at first." She did as told and Daniel focused, raising his other hand. He started to lift her in the air very slowly. Sarah was nervous at first and held his hand tightly, but she quickly got used to it. She opened her arms and Daniel slowly made her twirl around him, guiding her. He eventually let go of her hand and it was like she was flying around him. Like Peter Pan, Wendy and the other children. Sarah was ecstatic.
"I'm flying, Daniel! I'm really flying!"
Daniel grinned. His powers finally made someone happy for a change. Maybe the reverend mother was right. He could use his powers for good. It could actually be a gift…
"I wish you could fly with me too! We could see the world together!" She exclaimed.
Daniel agreed. "That would be great..."
"Sarah Lee!" A man's voice screamed. Daniel was startled and lost his focus, almost dropping Sarah, but he was able to recover before she got hurt, and he laid her safely on the ground.
Sarah Lee was startled too but she was smiling when she got up from the ground. "Did you see that, daddy? I was flying! Daniel is miraculous! He can make people fly!"
"That's... That's incredible for sure..." The man was clearly trying to stay calm but he looked very scared. Daniel felt terrible. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. Even if it made Sarah Lee happy. God, he had almost dropped her...
"Sarah Lee, we need to go now. You can talk to Daniel later."
"Okay! See you later, Daniel! And thank you for everything! That was amazing!"
"You're welcome. See you."
Sarah Lee's dad grabbed her hand and took her away, but not before she turned to wave Daniel goodbye one last time.
The boy smiled and waved back. She was so nice and cute. He could only hope he didn't get her into trouble. She didn't deserve to pay for his mistakes like others had done before.
When he saw Sarah Lee the next day, she didn't look that happy. Daniel was very saddened. He supposed that her father had scolded her. He hoped he hadn't been too hard on her. It was his idea after all. Somehow he always screwed up everything.
Daniel needed to know if she was okay. But he hoped she wouldn't be angry at him for what happened.
"Hey, Sarah Lee..." He greeted her tentatively.
"Hey, Daniel," she smiled when she saw him.
"Is... Everything okay? You seem a little down today."
"Yeah..."
"Is it about yesterday? Did your parents… scold you?"
"Yeah... They told me... That your gift is not a game and that we shouldn't do that ever again. That it may be dangerous and sinful. That you're destined to greater things."
"What does that mean?"
Sarah Lee shook her head. "I have no idea. But we can't do that anymore, Daniel. I'm sorry."
"No, I am sorry. It was my idea. And it could have been dangerous. I almost dropped you. I'm sorry for putting you in danger and making your parents scold you."
"It's okay. It was still amazing. I don't remember the last time I was that happy. I'll be always be thankful to you for that."
Daniel was touched. He had made her really happy after all. Even if it was a stupid idea. Sarah Lee smiled at him.
"By the way, I want to introduce you to someone."
Only then Daniel noticed she was carrying a small cage.
"This is my pet chick, Alexander."
She showed him the cage. Inside there was a baby chick. It tweeted softly. It was adorable.
"He's so cute."
"Thank you! I love him so much!"
Sarah Lee opened the cage and took the little animal in her hands with great care.
"Would you like to hold him?"
Daniel nodded and took the baby chick as carefully as Sarah Lee had done. He stroked him gently and the little animal tweeted happily.
"I think he likes you already," Sarah Lee said gleefully.
"I had a pet too. Her name was Mushroom. She… she was killed by a cougar. I miss her so much."
"Oh… I'm so sorry, Daniel. I bet she's in Heaven with Alexander's family."
"Yeah…” He glanced at the blue sky with cotton like clouds. It looked like an amazing place to stay, no doubt.
“I hope my dad and my brother are up there too..."
"Of course they are! Like my grandparents. And I'm sure we'll see them again."
Daniel smiled a little. Oh, how much he hoped that too. Sarah Lee's hope was contagious.
He spent the afternoon and evening playing with Sarah Lee and Alexander. This wasn't definitely that bad, he thought. Maybe he could actually be happy here and make other people happy at last. This way, he could atone for everything he had done. Sarah Lee had given him hope to redeem himself, even if just a little.
He just hoped this was possible.