Mollie leaned close to her chocolate birthday cake. Four candles flickered in the twilight. She blew hard, and the flames danced.
A white unicorn stepped from behind the oak tree. Its mane shimmered like pastel clouds. Mollie's paper crown slipped to the grass.
The unicorn lowered its head and nudged a shimmering path over the fence. Colors bled into the air like paint. Mollie climbed onto its back.
They lifted into the sky. Below, flowers hummed a bright buzzing song. Mollie held tight and laughed.
Clouds tasted like cool mist and looked like whipped cream. Mollie reached for a floating star. It popped like a soap bubble and splashed glitter on her nose.
She giggled and wiped the glitter away with her sleeve. The unicorn continued through the glowing arch. Stars twinkled above like scattered sugar.
At the bridge's end, numbers glowed under her feet: one, two, three, four. They swirled up and became fireflies circling her head. Mollie whispered, 'I'm growing.'
The fireflies painted golden arcs around her. Mollie stood very still, watching them dance. Their light warmed the twilight air.
They settled back in the garden. The unicorn bowed once, then faded into darkening air. A single iridescent quill fell into Mollie's palm.
She closed her fingers around the quill. Above, the first stars appeared one by one. Mollie smiled at the night sky.