But the fireflies all escaped, and the boys were left with none.
“ZzzZzZZzzZZz,” Through the trees they went. Not long after they had already arrived home, as they took a rest, they started talking and discussing the incident, not giving care to their hero, Sparky. Bubba then got up and began speaking to the crowd of fireflies, “We stand here together, free from our kidnappers. IT TRULY IS A MIRACLE! Now there is only one more thing left to do… Celebrate!” And once more, Sparky is left out as the black sheep. No one realised, cared, cared to notice. Not the group of fireflies, not Monique, not even Bubba seemed to care. Sparky is again an outcast.
There was laughter all around the room, bright lights of the fireflies filling up the night sky, like a hoard of shooting stars, fireflies singing the songs they liked. It was spectacular! At the end of the party, Bubba decided to give a speech. Maybe now, right here, Sparky can finally get the acknowledgement he wants, the acknowledgement he deserves.
Bubba starts his speech: “We are all grateful, not for just escaping the clutches of those evil kids, but managing to fight with something much more powerful in size, intelligence, skill and raw ability. Those kids finally know what it’s like to be humiliated right in front of their eyes. WE ARE STRONGER THAN EVER. WE WILL RISE AS ONE!” The whole crowd gets up and starts applauding, except for one firefly, Sparky. “I’ve had enough. ENOUGH!” A voice shouted from the crowd. Everyone went quiet. It was none other than Sparky. “Everything, everything I did so that I could get ditched again; you expect me to stay? I am an outcast—a stranger. I’m probably better off joining those boys; they will accept me, right? First, it was the fact that I didn’t have a light, and then you all laughed at me because I tried to fit in. Now you won’t even acknowledge me for what I did to save all of you. OH, WHAT’S THE POINT ANYMORE?” Sparky shouted out.
The whole crowd went quiet, dead silent. Then there was Bubba, “Um… Sparky? Are you okay there, buddy? I’m sorry I couldn’t mention you. I was-” “YOU WERE WHAT? I COULDN’T HEAR YOU.” Sparky replied. Sparky did have a light, a very dark, tragic and cunning light. He then got up and said to the crowd one last time, “This is all you’re doing; I never wanted this, never.”
He then flew off to who knows where. Not even his forest friends Owl and Mr. Cricket knew where he went. Days went by, and days turned to weeks, weeks to months, months to
years. He is still missing. Everyone gave up. Bubba still cries. Monique still feels the guilt; everyone does. Sparky did find his light, just not the one he desired.