"Do fairies really exist Mama?" I rolled my eyes at Azaan's childish question.

"No, they don't silly, right Mama?" Mama looked at us, her eyes lighting up with mischief.

"Of course they do. Who do you think brings magic in the world?" she answered, folding Azaan's shorts and placing them in the cupboard.

I looked at the wall art behind me. Little fairies, in all colors, danced in the enchanted forest, their heads thrown back, eyes filled with happiness. "Is that why you painted this?" I muttered. She came to me and placed her hand on my forehead, her eyes looking at the art fondly.

"I painted this when you were born, almost 8 years ago," she tucked the comforter around me, her face filled with nostalgia. I snuggled in deeper, trying to find warmth in the cold December night.

"It's Jasmine's birthday tomorrow isn't it mama?" I glared at Azaan, not wanting him to interrupt Mama's stories. She laughed, her voice tinkling through the room.

"Yes, my little Prince. Now, sleep, both of you." she kissed our foreheads and switched the night light on. "Sweet dreams!" after blowing us a kiss, she left the room, her familiar scent left in the air.

Azaan crawled out of bed, his little legs wriggling as he struggled to gain his balance. "Jazz! Jazz..." he hissed. I ignored him, keeping my eyes closed. One pudgy finger poked my cheek and I jumped. "Jazz!"

"What?" I answered, annoyed. His face was screwed up in concentration, his eyes squinting like he was thinking of something.

"Are fairies real?"

"Really Azaan?" He stared at me, his big brown eyes wide and curious. I sighed. "No. It's a story for little kids like you."

"I'm not a little kid." he protested tears gathering in his eyes.

I felt bad. Maybe I had been a little harsh.

"No, you're not. Come here." I lifted the comforter, shivering from the cold air, bundling him. He nestled, his cold hands coming around my neck. "Magic and fairies aren't real Azaan..."

"Now why would you say such a thing?" Azaan and I jumped.

"Who said that?" I asked, picking up a book from my side table.

"My you're a brave one, aren't you? Pretty too, I love your pigtails!" Azaan shivered, pressing into me, his eyes wide.

"Where are you? Who are you?"

A bright light detached itself from the wall. Azaan and I gasped, our eyes open wide. The light grew bigger until it formed the shape of a fairy!

"It's from the wall Jazz!" Azaan said, his eyes sparkling in wonder.

I stared, not wanting to believe my eyes. The fairies wings shimmered like hundreds of rainbows. She wore a silver crown that shown like starlight. Her beautiful pink dress fluttered from the movement of her wings.

"You're... you're..."

"A fairy? Yes, Sparkle Wings at your service."

"Wasple Wings?"Azaan muttered, his fist in his mouth.

"No, Sparkle Wings."

I stared at the fairy. This could not be real. My teacher had said that magic wasn't real. We were asleep. My fingers crept up to pinch my arm.

"Ow!" I cried out in pain. Sparkle Wings looked at me, her mouth curving into a bright smile, her shiny teeth on display.

Azaan climbed off the bed and reached his hand out to the light. "You're real!" His eyes lit up as Sparkle Wings did a little dance and twirled in the air.

"Jazz, you don't believe in magic?"

"No, she says that it's silly!" Azaan answered in a high pitched voice.

"Well buckle up kids, because I'm going to show you some magic!"