Emil had been declared dead. His family's house had caught fire hen he was young and he had been caught in it. When they finally managed to put the fire out Emil wasn't breathing, his heart wasn't beating. He had lost his wings, his body was badly burned, and as a result the medics declared him dead. Because he was.
And then he had started breathing again. He had spent weeks in the hospital. And when he got back home he refused to go outside.
His burns had healed now, the scars had disappeared. His wings hadn't grown back, they never would. Emil missed them. He missed being able to fly, to soar from treetop to treetop, watch the animals run far below him. He missed being able to play tag with his friends, or just being able to get anywhere. Because their village was high in the mountains and their house placed where you couldn't go by foot.
"I'm heading out, you want to come along?"
Emil let out a sigh, pushed himself off the bed and left his room. He looked at his mother, at her beautiful wings which shifted in two shades of blue. He looked away and leaned against the wall.
"Your wings can't carry two grown people."
"Should I invite someone over? I saw a girl with white wings in the store yesterday."
"Mom, it's... it's okay."
"It'd do you good to meet some people, honey."
"Perhaps", Emil pushed her towards the door, "but it's okay. I can't do things they can anyway."
"If you say so."
She kissed his head before throwing herself over the edge of the cliff. Emil watched as her wings caught the air and lifted her towards the sky. If only he could fly like that as well...