I was inspired to write this piece after listening to the song Mother Stands for Comfort by Kate Bush. I have taken a small break from my story An Echo A Stain but I hope to finish it soon. This is written from Jin's POV.

Mother Stands for Comfort

I could already smell the scent of death before I even opened my eyes. I could sense the decay of human flesh right before me – not my favourite wake up call.

I was lying on my back; the feathered softness of the wings was absent - I was in my human form.

I did not want to open my eyes and see what I had done- I did not want to take responsibility for the devil's actions. This was becoming too much for me.

Suddenly the darkness behind my eyelids grew light and I opened my eyes with a sudden jolt. I looked at my hands first – they were red with blood (the talons had disappeared). I did not want to look at the body but something made me.

A man. A dead man.

The face was damaged beyond recognition and his limbs were severed. There was a deep cut down his front- much like my father's. What had I done?

A strange image entered my head- I could visualise a group of people screaming at me:

They were yelling "Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!"

I tried to shut the noise out, but I knew I could not handle this. Who would listen to my story? No one would believe me...

I have destroyed the family of this man- I have destroyed everything.

"No, Jin" I heard a voice say- a woman's voice...one that was achingly familiar.

I stood up and looked around me.

"Who said that?"

I was alone in an alley with a dead stranger - no one else was here.

"It's me" the voice said. "It's me..."

I looked down and opened my mouth wide. She was kneeling beside the body. We looked at each other and she silently rose to her feet. I began to shake.

"Mother..." I whispered, my heart pounding. She closed her eyes and bowed her head, once. The smell of blood began to fade.

I quickly looked down at the body and then back at her.

"I did not want to do this" I said quickly, trying to fight the overwhelming shame rising within me.

"I know..." she said softly.

"It took over, it took control" I whispered. Without talking, I communicated the words I was dying to say.

It breaks the cage and wrath escapes and takes possession. Just like a crowd rioting inside me – make me do this, make me do that, make me kill him, make me kill her...I am losing control. Mother, help me.

She took hold of my hands.

"You do not deserve this bad life, this living nightmare. I will take care of you"

Letting go of my hands, I could see that the blood stains were gone.

I stammered, watching her kneel down to the body. She placed her hand on the broken face.

"Bye, Jin" she said quietly.

With a flash my mother and the body disappeared. I was utterly alone with only the echo of her voice saying my name.

My heart sank and I fell to my knees. Tears poured from my disbelieving eyes as I clenched the dirt of the ground with my cleansed hands.

Mother stands for Comfort.

Mother will hide the murderer.