Title: Wings

Time: September 2021

POV: Claire

I'm pulling a comb through Carrie's silky brown hair when I first hear it, the sigh of unsatisfaction. At first, I think that it's all in my head: my own personal fears, being projected into Carrie's little voice. Then I see her little scowl in the mirror with a tear running down her cheek.

"Mommy," she starts, "Am I pretty?"

My heart leaps into my throat and I know my eyes are wide. She's not even 7 years old yet, she's too young to start hating herself. But even as I think that, I know that 7 isn't too early to critize yourself. I always picked on myself growing up. I was never pretty enough, smart enough, funny enough, strong enough, brave enough.

I hesitate to answer, not because it isn't obvious that Carrie is stunning, but because I don't know what to tell her. I know she won't listen. She's about as stubborn as Shane, and as much of a perfectionist as me. I mentally kick myself for not seeing this coming.

"Yes," I blurt out instinctly, "You're the most beautiful girl in the world, Carrie,"

"I don't think so," she whispers.

I finish her braid and spin her too look at me. Tears are threatening to spill over in her eyes, as well as mine. How can my baby girl not see that she's perfect? I blame myself. Shane and I constantly tell her that we love her and praise her every time she uses manners or does something nice for someone. We told ourselves that we wanted our daughter to grow up without the pressure of looking pretty or learning to judge people by their looks, so we never focus on her beauty. Do we not tell her enough, is that why she thinks this? Tears spill from her eyes, as well as mine.

"You're beautiful, Carrie," I tell her softly, but making sure that I say every word clearly so she doesn't doubt it, "What don't you like about yourself?"

"I don't really know," She admits, scrunching up her freckled nose, "I just wish I looked more like you,"

"I wish I looked like you," I tell her, and it's not a lie. Her honesty breaks me, though. Me? Why would she want to look like me? Sure, I'm not as insecure as I was when I was younger, but I'm not pretty, and I'm definitly not as beautiful as Carrie, for sure.

She sighs so I grab her and pull her in for a hug. She hugs me back as I feel her tears and snot on my back as we both cry. Whispering now, I tell her how pretty she is and then I feel Carrie being pulled away from me. My head flicks up and I see Shane, tears in his eyes, aswell as he lifts Carrie onto his lap. He cradles her like a baby and strokes her hair.

"Go and get yourself a drink and a tissue, Claire," He says it roughly, but the as he looks down at Carrie, I know he's thinking the same as I am. I nod and leave, fixing myself up and grabbing a glass of water before standing in the kitchen listening to Shane and Carrie talk.

"Do want to hear a story, Carrie?" He asks softly, and although, I don't hear her say anything, I know Carrie will nod. She loves stories.

"Once there was a princess. She was very smart and beautiful, so much so, that she moved away from her parents early. The princess was constantly told by other girls that she wasn't pretty or smart and she believed them. That princess did some of the most amazing things that anyone has ever done..."

"What kind of things?" Carrie asks and I feel myself wondering the same thing.

"She worked with scary people, and she was very brave. She saved the whole town more than once, she is the reason that Morganville is still here today,"

"Wow," Carrie whispers, "She's very brave."

"She didn't think so, sweetheart," Shane tells her, "But she was. The most beautiful, smart person in the world but she didn't believe she was any of those things,"

"Who is she?"

"Your Mom,"

Carrie gasps and I stifle a giggle at her shock, "But Mom is amazing! Doesn't she know that?"

"See! You and her are both butterflies" Shane says.

"Butterflies?" Carrie repeats, "I'm not a butterfly and neither is Mommy,"

"You are butterflies. You know why?" Carrie must have shook her head here, because Shane continues, "Butterflies can't see their wings. They can't see how truly beautiful they are, but everyone else can. People are like that as well."