Flying Into The Sun

A minor character one-shot. See if you can guess who this is…

The wind ruffles my hair, passing my body as if I'm a fish in water – forever jumping, diving, gliding. It's heaven. And it's mine now. Considering the circumstances, I'm surprised I'm taking this so well. But I can choose. It's my life and I decide now.

The chink and rattle of equipment. I look down to see my kid sister waving at me, along with her new boyfriend. The two of them are grinning. They're all dressed up in winter clothes and look like a bunch of Eskimos. I suppress a laugh, which isn't too hard as the wind roars over the pounding of my wings.

I love to fly. It's the ultimate thrill – the ultimate high. My legs I don't miss – who wants to walk when they can whistle past the clouds? Who would dare contradict me on something I love so much? The mountains are not lost to me. I've gained a whole new world.

The sky is mine to explore now. The world is my oyster. I can enjoy it, I can lavish in it. The highest thing around.

I think about her. Who gave this gift to me. And my heart feels broken – it's pounding somewhere inside of me, but I can't hear it over the memories we shared. I miss her. She wasn't the one person I was to share my life with – my soulmate – but she was a good enough substitute. I loved her.

And I know that she loved me. After finding out what she was… after angering her… after stringing her along, she still couldn't let me go. It was illegal for her people – she knew. The penalty was death. But she could never hurt me. It wasn't in her heart. She could do terrible things, and did do them too. But she made up for them.

I dive. Warmth is spilling from my eyes. But I won't cry. How can a bird cry?
I'm perched atop a mountain peak – looking out over the land. I'd like to stay here. The view's spectacular.
From here the castle in the distance is shimmering in the afternoon sun – sending pools of glistening light in every direction. The black exterior no longer looks uninviting and hostile, but rich and elegant.
Worthy of its ruler.

And worthy of my sister. I can't imagine her playing football here, though. I can't imagine her even wearing her normal jeans and shirt combination. This land reeks of nobility and she'll have to keep her mind on the money.

I try to catch a glimpse of her. It isn't hard. She's half way up a rock face the other side of the valley – I can see that with my new eyes.
Her long fox-coloured hair is blowing in the slight breeze, her blue coat is shining and the fur enclosing the hood is rustling softly like an animal pelt.
An import from Outside. Courtesy of a Jean McCartney, who's living it up in Florida and enjoying the heat.
Winter coats? From Florida? I wonder how Jean managed it.

Why does my sister stay here?
I wonder that. I want my parents, I want TV, I want normality again. Most of all I want to be away from the place my girlfriend lost her life.
But there's this feeling of comfort and welcome here that I can't ignore. Ever since the sun started shining, I've felt the beginning of a new life.

The sun is setting on the time of darkness. And soon all that will be left standing is the victors.
My sister looses her footing. She's falling. The safety rope snags and holds. She's hanging in midair.
I imagine her laughing and want to laugh along too.

I know her soulmate is. I'm glad for her. Imagine – my sister has a boyfriend! I'm proud of you, kid.
You deserve it.
I look out at the sun, shining brighter than ever in this land that had ignored it for so long.
Did I deserve to lose her? I wonder. Because, this pain is really strong, it's hard to imagine she wasn't my soulmate after all.

My wings pound against the air and I'm up, once more, in the sky. I want to belong again – no more sad thoughts. More fun, life's too short to wallow in what could have been.
I smile. It's all I can manage.
Here, where I am, I'm up with the clouds. In a small bubble of happiness.
A creature of splendour, that's what I am now.
Beautiful. Powerful. And…
I look to my sister once more. She's on the ground. She's with her soulmate. They're kissing.

I swerve and bank to the left. It's not my place to spy.
I fly into the sun, shutting my eyes and letting its rays wash over me.
A creature of splendour…
Beautiful. Powerful. And…
Proud.