The flower petals fall in slow surrender to gravity, their color already faded at the edges. A hand reaches down to catch them, save them, but it is too far away. Long fingers brush only air in the futile attempt, perfectly kept nails gleaming in the late fall daylight.

Honey golden hair spills over Aurora's shoulders and she brushes it aside in a practiced move. The perfect, red lips form the words to a song that plays silent in her mind. The lyrics half-forgotten, but still powerful. Words from another life, one she does not recognize. Bright courtly colors and royal hues. There had been a woman and a man, looking down at her with love in their eyes.

Aurora shook her head, blue eyes blinking wide in confusion. Her three mothers - as she clearly thought of them - had never mentioned this other-place. How could she have dreamed it up with such alien detail? The woman put a hand to her delicately pointed chin as she thought.

Perhaps she would ask them. It was her birthday after all and they would have to answer her questions. With that settled, her brow smoothed and she began to sing another song.

-THE END