Amongst the Moon and Frost: Chapter 7

Time stands still.

Here is a character that is me. In every way and form, me. We are so much the same. Me. That is, if I had spiky hair that was white as freshly-fallen snow, command over winter phenomena, and mesmerizing blue eyes. Oh, and one other thing that I am not. I’d have to be a boy. But that is where the differences end between me and him.

My Jack Frost.

Five.

He went unseen, unheard for three hundred years. I haven’t had quite that lengthy existence, but it has felt like an eternity. Nobody believing in him. In me. To try to reach out and be heard only to be walked right through like nothing but air. And yet, to continue to assist others and bring them goodness—bring them happiness and fun—despite the fact that it would not change my invisibility even though I secretly hoped it would, despite the implications it had for me. That’s us. Alone in the world.

Four. Hand-in-hand with the previous, I suppose.

Calling out to one unearthly for an answer. For him it was the Moon. For me, it was that plus a combination of a Creator and just the world as a whole. Just one word, one question.

“Why?”

Three.

The moon. Go back to that night so many years ago. To the girl on the porch, in the hammock, with the knife at her chest. To the moon that shone upon her at the single most pivotal point in her life. I was saved by the moon. It gave me life, just as it did for Jack. To continue living. For a purpose unknown. That is, until recently. The purpose I am now aware of? Well, just ask Jack. We are one and the same even in that.

Oh, while we are on the topic of that night. Here’s two.

To tell you the truth, I never really realized this until I started to write this, my story. But looking back on it now, it was the wind that moved those clouds away from the moon. A brisk, cool, wintry wind. Like a certain someone was watching over me, not wanting to see my life end. A life so full of a love of a certain season. Now that I see it, I wasn’t saved just by the moon. He was there, even then. My lovely winter spirit. I can just see him smiling now.

One.

Our “centers,” our personalities, who we are. Two people who just want to have fun, to enjoy life and live it filled with happiness. To bring that  joy to others. Mischievous smiles, making sure people don’t overwork themselves so they, too, can have fun in life, one filled with good memories and fun times. And oh, a tad bit of cleverness. Smarts.

This is me. The real me. The true me that is me and was not so at the same time, since it had become a mask at points as I strove to appear strong and as a consistent beacon of light for others who were in the dark. Even though I was in the darkness myself. To sacrifice my true feelings and who I really am for the sake of not wanting to burden others, who already had so much to bear on their own. But now, now I see differently. I am stronger and more sturdy, a far better rock to stand on when I am true to myself. No more hiding away. No more masks or façades. Jack Frost, in being himself and who he is, taught me all of this. He taught me to truly love who I am. How? Because he is himself. Because he is me, and I him. How could I possibly love the character, whose personality is my own, and not love myself?

Here I am. Just like him, I am now heard, now seen, now believed in. My desire to always belong has finally been fulfilled. Well, maybe not quite friends-wise, but I’m talking about just feeling like I belong in the world, like I finally have a family and someone who truly cares, someone who will always be at my side. You know who I’m talking about. To tell you the truth, it’s still hard to believe, hard to wrap my head around. All because of him, because of this wonderfully fantastic movie in all that it has given to me.

I am here. A smart, artistic, caring, fun-loving girl with a deep love of all things Winter, but now paying more attention than ever to a certain Guardian spirit, one that has been with me from the very start. You should hear the daily conversations we have. A girl with tomboy tendencies who always manages to get others to laugh. A girl with a touch as cold as ice, a touch that is warm at the same time. A tall-ish girl (hey, I’m 5’5”! DON’T CALL ME SHORT) with long, thin legs and a lean structure overall, who is extremely light on her feet. Freckles that I have grown to love even more after noticing his. And my hair? Short, spiked up and to the side, and brown with just the slightest tint of red in the right kind of light. Yes, styled just like his. You know what? I have never felt more comfortable in my own skin. This haircut, this whole style, is me in every way and form, like it was always and forever meant for me, waiting for me. And then, my eyes. As deep a brown as can be, filled to the brim with mischievousness and a love of life.

So, that was my story. I really feel like I haven’t touched on everything. There’s just so much. But some things, like this connection I share with Jack (and, in turn, with Rise of the Guardians) just cannot be confined to little strings of characters. I hope you’ll understand. Anyway, here it is, take it if you will. Pick it apart, analyze it, do what you will with it. I thank you for all of your time. But, remember this. No matter what you do with it, one thing will never change. That it is my story. That this is me.

This is Ariel Wynter.

This is Jack Frost.

And now, let me tell you a secret.

This isn’t just my story.

It’s yours, too.

Time resumes. Roll credits. Music.

And the screen goes black.