Wings in the Shadows

I opened my eyes to a warm sky stretching endlessly above me. The breeze rustled softly through the trees, carrying a faint sweetness I couldn’t place. My back felt heavy, weighted by something I could sense more than see. Slowly, I sat up, letting the warmth of the sun wash over me as the strange weight stirred against my muscles.

Wings.

I’d had them for as long as I could remember—massive, black, moth-like wings that shimmered faintly in the light. They were a part of me, hidden and forgotten, folded neatly into my back most of the time. I’d never flown, never even tried. Growing up, I wanted to fit in, not stand out as the girl with wings. But something about today felt different.

“Ame,” I called, glancing around.

She stood a few feet away with her hands on her hips, looking me over with a mix of curiosity and mild exasperation. “So, you’ve got these epic wings, and you’ve never flown? Really?”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s not like I’ve had lessons or anything.”

“Well, you’ve got one now. Let’s figure this out.”

Two of our friends joined us in the field, and before long, I was reluctantly standing in the center of their watchful stares. Ame was the self-proclaimed coach, barking out instructions that were equal parts sarcastic and encouraging.

“Alright, step one: stop being afraid of the ground. You’re gonna hit it a lot,” she teased, grinning.

I spread my wings, feeling the strange pull of muscles I rarely used. The first attempt was a disaster. I flapped too hard, rose a few feet, and immediately crashed onto my face.

Ame gasped theatrically. “Amazing! You defied gravity for a whole three seconds!”

The others howled with laughter, but it was the kind of laughter that made me feel supported, not judged. Despite the soreness in my knees and elbows, I kept trying.

It took hours, but I got better. Each fall taught me something, and with each jump, I stayed airborne just a little longer. By the time the sun was setting, I could hover and glide, even if I wasn’t exactly graceful.

“That’s more like it,” Ame said, shielding her eyes from the golden light as she watched me coast a few feet above the ground.

But flying wasn’t just for fun. Ame had other ideas. “Time for some hero training. There’s a guy stealing candy bars from the gas station down the road. Think you’re ready to take him down?”

“Seriously? Candy bars?” I shot her a look, but she just shrugged.

“Gotta start somewhere.”

It was clumsy and awkward, but I started patrolling for small-time crimes, using my wings to swoop in and stop the culprits. My disguise—a hoodie and a half-mask—didn’t exactly scream superhero, but it worked well enough. I stumbled, tripped, and occasionally fell flat on my face, but with Ame and the others cheering me on, it didn’t seem to matter.

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If you want to read the second dream I had that night click here