Gia and Cami wriggle with anticipation, perched on the edge of the living room sofa. The laughter of distant children floats through the open window. "Summer means we get to stay up late, right, Cami?"
Cami grins, her hand tangled in Mama’s, and presses her face to the glass, peering into the deepening shadows.
Gia turns to Mama, hope sparkling in her eyes. "Please, Mama? Just five more minutes outside?" She presses her nose against the cool window, searching for movement among the trees. Cami only points silently toward the woods, her small finger trembling with excitement.
Mama kneels beside her daughters, her eyes alive with the promise of adventure. "The moon is up, and the world is awake," she whispers. "Let’s see what’s waiting in the tall grass." The girls slip their hands into hers, hearts pounding with the thrill of the unknown.
Gia lets out a delighted gasp. "Fireflies! The first ones of summer!" The garden glows with gentle, moving stars, illuminating the girls' awestruck faces. Cami giggles, the night alive with magic.
The air is filled with the sound of laughter and the rhythmic skritch of grass underfoot. Mama appears with a glass jar, its lid poked with neat holes. "Let’s catch a bit of light," she suggests, holding it out. Gia is quick, cupping her hands to trap glowing specks, while Cami lets the fireflies settle gently on her sleeve.
Gia presses her lips close to the glass. "I wish for a magical adventure," she breathes, her eyes shining. Cami hugs the jar to her chest, her gaze drifting to the sky. "I wish for shooting stars," she whispers, hope trembling in her voice.
Mama kneels in the clover, brushing loose curls from Cami’s forehead. "It’s time, my little sparks," she says softly. The girls nod, understanding that magic belongs to the world, not the jar.
Gia twists the lid off as Cami pushes open the window. One by one, the fireflies tumble out, spiraling upwards. They drift past the oak’s branches, then even higher.
Gia cries out in astonishment. "Our wishes!" The fireflies have become shooting stars, trailing glittering ribbons across the heavens. The world below holds its breath, dazzled by the cosmic dance.
Gia and Cami drift into dreams filled with gardens of light and skies woven of wishes. Mama kisses their foreheads, her own eyes reflecting the glow. "Goodnight, my wonders," she whispers, tucking them in.
Gia rubs her eyes, uncertain if the night’s magic was real. "Did it really happen?" she wonders aloud. Cami points to the windowsill, where a single fleck of gold dust sparkles in the morning light. "It was our wishes," she smiles. "And they’re still coming true."
