The cold night air blew through an open window, and mustering up the effort to close it from outside warm covers seemed almost impossible. One foot at a time Clara climbed out of bed and pulled the old window shut. She turned to go back to bed but decided to see if the couch was still occupied. She opened the door slowly for fear of discovering what she already knew in her heart. The couch was empty except for a couple folded blankets and a neatly fluffed pillow. Clara ran back to her room for a shawl and sprinted outside to get the wind under her wings. After gaining some momentum her wings spread out in all their glory against the night sky. Nothing was up there to hurt or leave her, just the stars and a sense that everything would turn out for the best. The town looked peaceful in the dark, the tiny houses and stores shown in the moonlight. She flew for what seemed like hours, around the forest and swooping over the lake chasing the moonlight.
The wind began to blow harder making it harder for Clara to fly straight and safely. Her fingers were purple and by this time she had lost all feeling in her toes. Clara kept on flying not noticing any of the changes in weather. Her mind was far away from everything, even her own heart. I am stupid. Though sometimes there is something in hoping, for anything. I knew he wouldn't stay, but I'm still glad to have met him. Finally someone besides the mail carrier and the landlord get within 100 feet of me. Now I just need… well I don't know what I need to do, but something will work out.
In the midst of her thought process, a gale force wind was caught under her wings; before she could react the wind had carried her cold and numb body into a pine tree. The impact made Clara feel like her eyes were going to leap out of their sockets and her head to roll on to the ground. She carefully slid the rest of the way down. Once on the ground she tried to shake some of the sticky needles from her wings. This motion only ended in pain. Clara let out a small scream, and then she bit her hand to stop anyone from hearing. After the pain subsided into a low throbbing, she looked around through a small clearing and saw the thrift store that was only a half mile from her home. 'Alright I can make it form here.' She said to herself. Walking was tougher than she thought, especially without shoes on. By the time her house was in view, her feet were cracked, blistered and bleeding. The porch swing was going faster than usual, too fast for it to be the wind. Sitting on the swing was a blue figure tapping two fingers on the arm rest. As soon as he saw her, he ran to help her back to the house.
"Where did you go? You shouldn't go running off like that."
Clara used what strength to push him away, "I'm not the one who keeps running away. You're the one who disappeared in the middle of the night. I thought you had left for good."
"I thought I was going to. I couldn't leave without saying goodbye. Not after all the help you've given me."
Clara started to argue but instead fell back on the ground and groaned. Her once white wings were now dirty and covered in pine needles. Kurt rushed forward and gently lifted Clara's weak body off the ground and onto her bed. "Looks like it is my turn to help you," said Kurt trying his best to whisper. He quietly walked out of the room and found the cupboard where Clara kept her medical supplies. With a warm washcloth Kurt cleaned off the dirt and blood from Clara's face, hands, and feet. Even with dirt in her and sap I her wings, she looked like an angel.
"I'm sorry." Clara said half asleep.
"For what?" said Kurt.
"For keeping you here too long. I should not have insisted."
"It is nothing. Don't worry, you're lucky you're not more seriously injured." Kurt said while wrapping her feet with a soft bandage.
"You're worried about me aren't you?"
Kurt dropped the roll of gauze he was using and put everything back in the first aid box. "What is important now is that you get some rest. I'll be here in the morning to help you get the needles out of your wings." With that he closed the door and left Clara to come to her conclusions.
Kurt went outside and sat on the steps. The stars still shone brightly and the curve of the moon reflected in his bright yellow eyes. "Worried? Is that all you feel for her?" he said to himself. "Even if you did, she would never return those feelings. She's just tired of being cut off from everyone." He pulled a strand of white prayer beads from his pocket and ran the smooth strand between two of his three fingers. His prayers did bring some comfort but something lead him to believe that he would have to pray for more than just comfort to figure out what was happening. How is it possible to go from being the 'thing' or 'demon' that no one understands and everyone is afraid of to being welcomed into the arms of an angel. Surely God has a plan for all this, and surely… well nothing is for certain.
Walking back into the house he heard some light snoring coming from Clara's bedroom. Kurt smiled and unfolded the blankets on the couch and lay down on his back. It had to be more than just mere concern. With that thought he closed his eyes and drifted off.
