Peter and Wendy

by J.M. Barrie

She had looked forward to thrilling talks with him about old times, but new adventures had crowded the old ones from his mind. “Who is Captain Hook?” he asked with interest when she spoke of the arch enemy. “Don’t you remember,” she asked, amazed, “how you killed him and saved all our lives?” “I forget them after I kill them,” he replied carelessly. When she expressed a doubtful hope that Tinker Bell would be glad to see her he said, “Who is Tinker Bell?” “O Peter,” she said, shocked; but even when she explained he could not remember. “There are such a lot of them,” he said. “I expect she is no more.”

“Because they are no longer gay and innocent and heartless. It is only the gay and innocent and heartless who can fly.”

“Ah yes, many girls hear it when they are sleeping, but I was the only one who heard it awake.”

Something inside her was crying “Woman, woman, let go of me.”

Oof, this made me sad for a moment; but I could not relate, as I happily enjoy the woman I've become more than the fantasies of girlhood.