25. Bliss, the year of the Unicorn      

Dear diary,

I know that I usually talk to you about things that happened a while ago, but now I have to tell you what happened recently.

It might be a bit confusing that I will skip from our relationship beginnings to now, but we had a few big days, me and Van.

You might be thinking that we got engaged or married or something as big as that, and you would be wrong.

However, what happened in the last few weeks was no less important to us than the nuptials to others.

I don't want you to underestimate the importance of what happened. We went public with our relationship.

It was...an interesting experience.

I am so overwhelmed by different thoughts and emotions now, so much so, that I decided that I have to tell you about everything that happened immediately.

But don't worry, I know I skipped a lot of details about our relationship and I will go back to that.

Right now, I need to vent.

You are the only one who listens without judging or interrupting, and I need that right now.

So, as I already told you, Van and I were hiding our relationship because it was a taboo, something that was never done before.

We didn't want others' negative opinions or words to blemish our relationship, so we decided not to tell anyone. After all, it was no one else's business but ours.

At first, it was kind of exciting. You know, forbidden love and all that, but after a while, it became tiresome. Sneaking around became a task, and often I wasn't able to meet Van because I couldn't slip out unnoticed.

Also, it started making me sad and honestly frustrated, that I couldn't hold his hand in public, let alone kiss him. The worst thing about it all was that I was the one insisting on secrecy.

In the elf community, it wasn't such a big deal if you did something unconventional, they didn't care too much, but the fairies...

We are very traditional, and no one ever thought of doing something different, so I had no idea what to expect. I wasn't afraid of them, but I did fear the disappointment in their eyes.

Whether we want to admit it or not, we often seek approval from the ones we care about, and sometimes we put that before our happiness. It is a very strange thing but it is true.

When I see approval in my mother's eyes, I feel like I have done something well, I feel proud. In contrast, when I see disappointment, I feel sad and empty, like I did something wrong even when I know I didn't.

I knew I had to get rid of that kind of mentality and decided to do it step by step.

First of all, I gathered all of my good friends and told them the truth. I told them the whole story, about how we met (which some already knew), but also about how we fell in love, which was a shocking revelation for all of them.

Having already met Van, Clementine, my dear mare friend, was immediately happy for us.

"He is the coolest elf ever. He saved my life. It's so nice to hear that you two found each other. I am so happy for you. " She told me, the moment I finished telling them everything.

The others were far more confused. They couldn't comprehend how such a relationship was even possible.

However, they were much more understanding than I expected, even my fairy friend Linky reacted much better than I thought she would.

Like everyone else, she wasn't able to understand my relationship with Van, but even though that was true, she was okay with it.

"I can see how happy he makes you. If you are happy, I am happy. You could be dating an elf, a giant, or a human, I wouldn't care. You are still my best friend, and will always be. What makes me furious is the fact that all this time you had this hot romantic relationship that you told me nothing about. What kind of friend are you?" She said the last part jokingly.

And that was it. No harsh words, no rejection, just pure and simple acceptance. That gave me hope that maybe everything would be okay.

I told Van I was ready, and we decided to start with the elf community since they were bound to have a better reaction.

We chose to do it during the evening of traditional elf dance since they were generally happier when they were dancing.

At first, when I showed up with my fairy wings trailing behind me, there was a stunned silence, but after a few moments, they continued as if nothing unusual happened.

First, there was the traditional circle dance which I danced very well. Actually, over the months preceding that event, Van had taught me all the elf dances, and I loved them.

They were all new ways for me to express the joy of life. The circle dance was really fun and not too difficult but for me, the true treat was the second dance. I can't tell you its name because it is a long elf name that I have already forgotten (Don't tell Van!), but it is the most passionate and personal dance that I have ever danced.

The music for that dance is very lively with the kind of rhythm that makes your heart beat faster, and your body moves on its own accord. It is nothing like the traditional and formal fairy dances.

Don't get me wrong, I love those dances, but the one that the elves dance, was so new and exciting for me, that I couldn't help but adore it. The dance required very close contact with your partner.

While Van and I were dancing, our bodies were so close that I could feel his heartbeat against mine. The dance was very sensual, and it involved a lot of energetic movements, some of which seemed too personal to me.

Suffice it to say, that sometimes Van's hands wondered lower than my waist, which was unheard of in any of the fairy dances, but seemed to be a norm for the elf dances.

Once I managed to relax and forget about the fairy rules and norms, I enjoyed myself very much.

As the dance was ending, Van dipped me and gave me a long passionate kiss that left me breathless.

As he pulled me back, I needed time to catch my breath. Once I did that, I scanned the elves around me searching for any signs of disgust or judgment, but I saw none.

All I saw were confused glances and a few shrugged shoulders. Some of Van's friends approached us and chastised him for hiding his relationship from them.

"You have been hiding a true gem, my friend." One of his friends said, and I couldn't help but blush from embarrassment.

"Careful what you say, this fair lady is taken. Watch your mouth, or I shall have to challenge you to a duel." He said, joking around.

Although he kept assuring me that he wasn't worried about the reaction of his friends, I could see the relief on his face when he knew they were fine with it.

Even though he expected them to be accepting, he wasn't as sure of their reaction as he tried to convince me, and himself.

A burden was lifted from his shoulders. He was Atlas finally freed from carrying the weight of the skies, and it was nice seeing him like that, relaxed and happy.

I was content that it went well with the elves, but the worst was yet to come, and I couldn't help but feel anxious.

Finally, the day came when we had to tell the fairy community. We decided to do it during the Big Feast in celebration of Pan that was held every year. It was the holiest event for us, so I was hoping that would make them softer, more open-minded.

I was wrong.

The moment I arrived with Van by my side, we were met with unfriendly glares and loudly whispered disapproval.

My friend Linky, however, immediately came to our side, eager to meet Van, and to show her support.

Even though no one knew why Van was there, they were already angry, I worried what would happen when they found out the truth.

"I can't do this!" I told Van and Linky.

"Yes, you can! This is your life, and you choose how to live it and who you love! Your life and no one else's! Do what feels right!" Linky was the one to respond, and I knew that she was right.

Not wanting to be formal about it, because that was not me, I stepped closer to Van. I took his hand in mine.

"Let's make it big and flashy, happen what may!" I whispered.

He nodded his head, and the next moment he was dipping me the way he did at the elf dance and kissing me with all he had, in front of the gaping fairies while sparks flew everywhere.

If you were wondering, the sparks were made by me and Van, green and purple, and beautiful. We did say we wanted it big and flashy, didn't we? Well, I guess we gave them something they would never forget, even though some of them would want to, those bigots!

Saying it didn't go well, would be a huge understatement.

Let's just say that I think they would have been less shocked had I killed someone in cold blood and drugged their body to the Feast.

First, there was dead silence, but the kind of silence you knew meant that all the bad things were about to come.

In the next second, the noise became insufferable. There was a loud grumble of disapproval and a few disgusted sounds, mostly from the older generations.

That day, I heard more bad words from fairies, than I did in my entire life, and that is saying something.

The atmosphere became charged with such negative energy, that I couldn't stand it. I had to get away from their suffocating disapproval.

"Van and I are together, and no matter what you say or do, we will stay together. Can't you just get over it!?" I said before we left.

My words made the fairies even more enraged.

Van and I decided that it was our cue to leave, so we went to the most peaceful place we could remember, the beach.

For a long time, we just lay on the beach, enjoying the healing sound of waves crashing. Enjoying the beauty of nature.

Talking about laying down, it's time for sleep, who knows what the future has in store for me.

Goodnight.