I was reminded of something last night when I was handing out Halloween candy. I saw it in the kids’ eyes, but it inspired a feeling in me. It was a mixture of nostalgia and pride, and it was because these kids still understood the power of make-believe. They hadn’t had their rose colored glasses ripped away, and they truly believed that they were whatever character they had chosen for the night.
I don’t think I’d want to go back to being as innocent as a child, but that utter conviction they had that they had while coming up to get candy and show off their costumes thrilled me.
Still, there is one part I don’t like about Halloween.
It’s when the magic ends. When the makeup comes off. When the fangs get tucked in a drawer to wait out the year. I want to be fully embedded in the story that surrounds the chosen character, and I hate that I have to tuck them away until the season returns.
I genuinely feel cheated and upset when the illusion is broken.
It’s another reason I love writing, and I’ve been thinking about writing and illusion quite frequently lately.
I had wanted to be an actress, and I did quite a bit of acting throughout my younger years, but something always nagged me about it.
I think I enjoyed acting because it allowed me to get into a character. To analyze them. To understand their inner workings, and I think that played into my decision to become a writer.
I simply love the magic. I love the exploration. I get to discover new characters every day; whether I’m working on something of my own, or reading another author’s series.
It’s 2 AM as I write this, so technically it’s the day after Halloween, but I can still feel a little bit of the magic in the air. I’m going to hold onto it. I think I’ll capture that power of storytelling, place in a little bottle, and store it next to my fake vampire fangs to give me yet another reminder that the magic of make-believe doesn’t have to end when the ghosts and ghouls say goodnight.
Feature Image photo by Beth Ireland on Unsplash
Fairy Light photo by Rhett Wesley on Unsplash
That is very truly you. I have some of your fangs here.