Marigold glimpsed at the rear-view mirror. The creature didn’t give chase, and soon fell miles behind. Slowing the car to 25 miles per hour, Marigold wondered if the creature meant to hurt her. Wouldn’t she have done so if that was her intent?

The open road took her to another familiar location – Mr. Duffy’s: the coffee shop she and her mother used to frequent together before she moved to Nashville. She stopped the car in the parking lot, wide and curious eyes scanning the place. A tight grip around the mace in her pocket, Marigold stepped out of the car.

She entered the coffee shop, where only two other people sat at a table for two – Marigold’s mother, and a young adult, just turned twenty. 

A waiter trotted up to their table. “Good afternoon; what can I get for you?”

The young adult smiled. “Could I get a sweet iced t–”

“–Two coffees, please,” Marigold’s mother sang, ignorant to the young adult’s subtle scowl.

The waiter returned with their drinks in a matter of seconds.

“So,” Marigold’s mother cooed as she poured cream and sugar into her coffee, “how are things with you and Zackery?”

“Actually–”The young adult looked out the window, stirring a spoon in the plain coffee“–that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

Her mother lost her smile. “What’s wrong?”

“I think I wanna break up.”

“What? Why?”

“He just isn’t doing anything for me, and it’s pretty obvious the feeling’s mutual.”

“But, he’s so nice! And he likes you – you should give him another chance.”

“I know, I know, but the thing is…”

“Yes?”

“He really wants kids. And I mean, really wants kids.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“I don’t. Want. kids.” The young adult clenched her jaw.

“Aw, come on, Marigold, you’re still young. Your mind will change eventually.”

“You said that ten years ago.”

“Oh, I was like you when I was your age.”

“Anyway, Ma, I don’t think I want to stay with Zackery.”

Her mother’s tone dropped. “You need to marry him.”

“Why?”

“Haven’t you already tainted yourself?”

A suffocating silence fell over. The young adult tossed a twenty dollar bill on the table and stormed off, leaving behind the full cup of plain coffee, and her mother to sigh and stare at the ceiling.

Marigold sat down in one of the empty chairs. She met Zackary in her British literature class. They sat next together and did a few assignments together, but she didn’t particularly consider him her friend. She was caught off guard when he asked her out. She wanted to politely turn him down, but didn’t want to be rude, so reluctantly agreed.

Time with Zackery was like going on dates with a friend. He wasn’t mean or bad, necessarily, but she felt nothing towards him. She never felt romantic attraction towards anyone, really; but, having a boyfriend was normal for a woman her age. She sometimes wondered if Zackery even felt anything towards her; he almost never made an attempt to hold her hand, and after their first poor experience in the bedroom, he refrained from making any advancements for years. Marigold couldn’t believe Zackery wanted to have sex for the first time in six years just to make a baby.

A firm tap on the shoulder stole Marigold’s attention. The creature with the moth-like face stood over her, a moan escaping her dry lips. Marigold shot to her feet and pulled out the mace, spraying the creature right in the eyes.

The moth creature tilted her head without so much as a blink. She looked around the tables and picked up a lone cup of iced tea. With earnest eyes, she handed it to Marigold.

“Ice… iced tea?” Her voice, hoarse and dry, felt like knives scraping against Marigold’s ear. She smiled like an earnest, well meaning stranger, holding the tea outstretched for the young woman.

With a hesitant hand, Marigold accepted the drink. The creature beamed, and the pieces of silk surrounding her body flew up, spreading out like giant wings, revealing her curvy, human-like body.

Marigold took a step back and nearly dropped the cup. The creature’s spread wings reminded her of the fairies in the fantasy books she used to read as a child – strong and ready to take flight. 

The moth-like fairy turned and headed towards Marigold’s car. Seeing she wasn’t following, the fairy turned and beckoned Marigold forth with a curved finger. Holding her breath, clutching the tea, Marigold followed.

The fairy led Marigold past her car, through the mist. Marigold took a nervous sip of the tea, hoping to calm her nerves. The strong, yet sweet liquid easily went down her throat. The fog cleared, revealing an all-too familiar sight: her small, one-bedroom apartment.

Zackary stepped out of the shower, furiously rubbing a towel through his wet hair. A young woman stood at the bathroom mirror, brushing her long black hair.

“You still want to have sex tonight?” she asked, tilting her head towards Zackary.

Zackary sighed, dipping his head forward. “Whatever it takes to have a baby.”

The woman put the brush down, staring into the sink drain. “Why do you like kids, Zack?”

Zack turned to the corner of the room, nibbling on his thumb’s fingernail. “Well,” he said slowly, “they’re cute, aren’t they?”

“Hardly.” The woman stepped out of the bathroom, slipping on her work blazer. “I doubt just thinking they’re cute will make us good parents.”

“True,” Zackary answered. “But, our parents want grandkids.”

The woman raised an eyebrow as she filled her thermos with freshly brewed coffee. “Are they giving your brother this much shit for it?”

Zackary swallowed. “Did… did he not tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“Dane and Angela have been going through some–”Zackary ran a hand down his face“–‘issues’ with pregnancy. I don’t think they’ll be having kids any time soon.”

The woman didn’t answer.

“I’ll tell you a bit more after work,” Zackary said. “See you tonight.”

“Bye.”

Marigold lingered in the apartment room, watching as Zackary left for work. She saw his face more clearly than she had that morning – tired, defeated, pale.

Marigold turned to the fairy, who beckoned her to follow once more. Taking a sip of the iced tea, Marigold followed.

The fairy led Marigold back to the car and gestured out to the open road. Marigold once again saw the several different paths, each branching out in different directions and spanned out for miles.

Tears in her eyes, Marigold smiled at the fairy. “Thank you.”

The fairy returned the friendly grin and spread her wings.

Marigold stepped back into the car, and the world shifted. She was parked outside of her apartment, and the clock read 7:01 am. Marigold scanned the area outside, exactly as it was before she left, the moth-like fairy nowhere to be seen.

Taking a deep breath, head cleared, Marigold turned on the engine.