Beautiful Dawn

Once upon a time...
A young girl fell in love with a light in the darkness. It was the merest pinprick of illumination, only seen in the periphery. She was unsure of its meaning, but would try to study it in sideways glances.

As the young girl grew she began to understand the tiniest spot of radiant light meant somewhere beyond the confusing darkness was warmth and joy. She began to seek it.

What the woman could not comprehend was the light was not to be found around her, although she sought it at a tiring and obsessive pace. The light, like the darkness, was within her. And one day, after years of hiding, the light decided to show herself.

The light was fiery and demanding, and made the woman squint into the terrifying new glare. Having thought only to seek the light, the woman had not thought much of what to do with it if found. And the woman was selfish, timid, and unsure, and for a time she tried to hide from the dark corners the light insisted upon searching most thoroughly.

The light demands honesty, freedom, laughter, and tears. The light says, in no uncertain terms, "I made all the color in the world for you, before you were even born." And the woman is surprised when her heart acknowledges the truth of it.

My dearest Aurora,

Although we have traveled lightyears together, and even though you are carved from my flesh, I am surprised to find you six and me your mother.

Your indomitable goddess spirit insisted against us all six years ago that despite our best efforts you would come in Your own time; two weeks late and 36 hours of labour after that, I was beginning to understand what wasn't going to kill me made me stronger and you were absolutely insisting upon me being as strong as you.

You have impressed on so many that you are no mere six-year-old. You are a force. You are a force of love, independence, creativity, drama, passion, and truth. You are a force which left me in no doubt I had to better myself, fix my broken parts, and live life because you deserve it.

I am entirely certain you will always out shine, out think, out wit, dance longer, rock harder, and laugh louder (and more maniacally) than I.

But I hope you will be able to say that I was always trying my damnedest to keep up with you.

My goddess, my beautiful dawn, happy sixth birthday.
Forever Yours, Mom