Flying With One Wing

 

My friend used to teach other birds how to fly. Almost everyday, I would meet her at the end of the rope, by the bay, to ask her about her techniques in flying. She would always tell me how to fly with one wing. You only have to close your eyes and leap! I shouldn’t be scared of jumping; all her friends know we start at some point.

 

I stood on a tree branch�"long and wide. In the midst of my attempt to jump, I broke down into tears. It was my fear to be loathed by unknown birds. My friend embraced me with her wing, and I tossed myself out in the air and flew with one wing!

 

“You can do it, Mia!” My friend shouted a hundred inches away from me. Her eyed followed me as I soared through the blue sky.

 

I wasn’t scared because of the looks on their face: terrifying and judgmental.  Falling was my greatest fear. A million wings clapped as I made it to the land without tears. Some were angry, some were proud. It was the result of my confidence as I jumped into the great sky. My family wasn’t there to witness my proud moment. They never saw the way I flapped my wing. They only concocted reasons on why I shouldn’t let myself fly in the open.

 

“It’s too embarrassing for the world to see! You’ll be humiliated! Mother warned me. I never cared about the way my parents would present me to their friends, but I only cared about being able to fly without the feeling of being hated.

 

Here I am, in front of all the birds that supported me. I wasn’t hapless after all; I have a lot of friends!

I wasn’t born to express hate, but to be truly proud of who I am and what I have.

 

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This is the best parable I've read in a long time. I love the simplicity of your storytelling, just letting your superb idea for a storyline shine without unnecessary embellishment. You message is so spot-on, I have to tell my story. I've been mostly in a wheelchair for the last six years. At first I defined myself by my disabilities, which tells others how to treat me. I hated being treated like a helpless invalid (having been independent, strong all my life). So I've slowly redefined how I define myself & my disabilities are no longer front & center. Your story SHOWS instead of tells how this goes. Great job! This is a nice short length for today's impatient online readers. You package a complete story here, despite how short it is (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Cassandra Marie]

I am beyond grateful for your review! Life can get a little bumpy along the way, but we know for sure that we'll get through the obstacles.

[The Daisy]

I really like this piece! Kepp writing, Casey!