Chapter 1: Gravity
Wendy knew she could not fly. She had been to school. She had learned the appropriate lessons, participated in discussions, received full marks.
She walked to school every day with her brothers, John and Michael. With feet firmly planted on the ground, she never even attempted to defeat gravity. For gravity was an immense foe, and Wendy was never fond of those.
She would walk forever, she supposed. When she was younger her imagination held no limits. She could soar; she could feel the wind as she reached higher and higher, not once stopping to look down. That is, until gravity gave a little tug. And when gravity tugged, no matter how faint, one was sure to fall.
Mrs. Darling had a faint tug. The kind of gentle, quiet spirit that the Bible always talks about. She dressed in white and spoke in hushed tones. Her stern talking to's were never things to fear, and usually ended in hugs and chocolate. She, herself, used to love to fly, but her mother's gravity was far too great, and she fell, just like they always do.
Michael could still reach the skies, for gravity overlooks the young. He would tell his sister about the taste of the clouds as they walked to school. Her hand in his, the tether that kept him but for a moment.
John Darling loved gravity. If Wendy was a tether then John was a boulder. Always in his signature glasses and top hat, he marched proudly with his siblings, making sure to alert his dear brother to the fact that clouds are just water, and would therefore taste as such.
They walked.
Wendy could remember being Michael's age: when walking didn't feel quite so heavy. Now nearly 17, the time had come for her to emerge into society. She was to be a proper lady, Mrs. Darling said, and suitors must be considered. Suitors whose feet would stand firm on the ground. Suitors whose hands would find her hands and be her tether.
Wendy would never fly again.