10.
I send Mother a picture—
a pretty one this time.
I drew it thinking of how
much I love her.
But just to be safe,
I don't deliver it myself.
What if she wouldn't open the door?
Today I'm with
Acelan in the market
and everyone knows we're mongrels.
And everyone stares—
Some laughing, some calling names.
But the worst part is when they tell you
they hate you.
Standing close to him,
I grip his hand tightly with my much
smaller one.
Don't be afraid,
I tell him.
He smiles, "Just ignore them."
But that's so hard to do when their leering faces
won't leave you alone.
I'm sorry for being this way—
it's not my fault.
Sometimes I want to flee to Ahnmik,
and Father—
even though I don't know who he is.
But then I remember Ecl.
No falcon would want me
For being a mongrel.
At least here, in Wyvern's Court
I can dance all I want
And not be afraid of getting
hurt. I only have to worry
about enduring those stares
and laughing,
hateful eyes.