The Night We Saw the Wisps

Feb 9
4 min read

Updated: Apr 29

There’s a moment, just after sunset, when the world holds its breath. The sky isn’t dark yet, but the gold has already slipped away, revealing a deepening blue slowly melting into black. Crickets warm up their songs. Some go, “cree‑ree‑ree…cree‑ree‑ree…” Others tinkle, like someone lightly tapping a little spoon on a teacup. “tink tink tink…” Fireflies test their tiny lanterns, soft greenish‑yellow lights winking in and out across the swamp. And if you stand very, very still…you might notice something unusual.

That’s exactly what happened to Lila and Reed on one warm summer evening in Whirygrove Swamp.

The swamp sat at the edge of their town: a place of cattails, frogs, and soft mud that squished between toes. Parents said it was perfectly safe. Well, as long as you stayed on the wooden path and came home before nightfall that is.

But Lila had heard a rumor.

“Mrs. Thatchley said she once saw blue lights floating above the water,” Lila whispered, tightening her ponytail. “She thinks they were wisps.” But that was Mrs. Thatchley, who, as everyone knows, isn't exactly the most reliable source in town. She could probably turn a grocery list into a three act drama if given enough time.

Reed gripped his flashlight, the dented one he took from his dad's toolbook (he probably got permission to take it), a little tighter, moving it back and forth in what some might say were stiff, nervous sweeps. “Wisps aren’t real,” he said, pushing his glasses up so he could see into the swamp a bit better.

Lila grinned. “Only one way to find out.”

The swamp was deep in shadow by the time Lila and Reed reached the creaking wooden path that wound around the trees, the one designed to keep your feet dry (mostly). Trees gathered at the entrance, arching together like a sleepy, leafy yawn. The air smelled a little muddy and a little sweet, like rainwater mixed with crushed grass.

Reed pointed his flashlight at the dark water pooling on either side of the path. “Maybe this was a bad idea.”

They walked a little farther down the path. Above them, the branches crowded together, shutting out what little light was left. Creak. Creak. The wooden boards complained under their feet. Before long, they reached a wide pool of still water.

It was here that Lila cupped her hands around her mouth and called softly: “Hello? Wisps? Are you there?”

For a moment, nothing happened. Then a frog croaked…and suddenly stopped. Silence.

Reed gasped. “Um…Lila?”

But Lila had already seen it. A soft blue light formed over the pool, misty and faint. At first it was hard to see, but slowly it grew brighter. Then another appeared. And then a third. The three glowing orbs danced around each other until, as if realizing they were being watched, they stopped.

“Are they…” Reed swallowed hard. “Looking at us?”

“I think so,” Lila said. She took a tiny step forward. The lights drifted back.

“It’s okay, little wisps,” Lila whispered. “We aren’t here to hurt you.”

She knelt and held out her hand. “We just want to be friends,” she said softly. “I’m so glad you’re real.”

Reed exhaled slowly. “They’re pretty.”

“They’re beautiful,” Lila corrected.

The wisps shimmered at Lila’s words. For a moment, they only hovered, three pale-blue lanterns swaying in the humid air. Then the smallest one drifted cautiously toward her outstretched hand.

Reed held his breath as the hairs on his arm stood up.

The little orb paused inches above Lila’s palm. Its glow pulsed once, twice. Then, very gently, it dipped lower until the light brushed her skin.

A soft warmth bloomed against her fingers.

Lila gasped. “Reed… it’s warm!”

Reed stepped closer despite himself, squinting behind his glasses.

For a few breathless moments, they simply watched. The wisps darted around them like playful sparks, swooshing back and forth leaving tiny ribbons of blue light behind them.

Suddenly, the wisps began to drift backward, their blue ribbons fading as they slipped deeper into the gloom.

Lila edged forward until her toes hung over the plank, the dark water just inches below. “Wait! Don’t go! Should we follow?”

Reed’s hand shot out and grabbed her sleeve. “No! Mom said not to leave the path!”

The wisps paused.

One of them bobbed gently, as if nodding. Then the three lights floated together in a tiny swirl, glowing brighter, then dimmer, until finally they winked out altogether.

“They were saying goodbye,” sighed Lila.

Just like that, the swamp returned to normal. The constellation of fireflies blinked back to life, sparkling in the dark.

“Lila,” Reed whispered, “we really saw them, didn’t we?”

Lila squeezed her brother’s hand. “Yeah. We did.”She smiled broadly. Wisps were real.

As they slowly walked along the wooden path and out of the swamp, Lila glanced once more over her shoulder.

For the briefest second, she thought she saw a faint blue glow deep in the swamp, just visible through the tangle of vines and tree branches crowding the swamp’s edge.

Almost like a tiny light waving goodbye.

Or maybe inviting them to return.