Her hands moved to her shoulders and his shirt she wore hit the floor. He should have averted his eyes; he didn't. She was slight, slender, and sinuous. Desire and a protective instinct fought for supremacy in his psyche. She turned and gave a bittersweet smile. She spoke in her soft, yet strong way.

“Nothing personal. A man just gets in the way. I have work to do, demons to slay; you’d only try to save me. You'd only get hurt.”

She turned back to the window and lifted her arms. From her scapulae, bone pierced through skin, extending and growing until two streamlined limbs formed. Flesh covered bone; feathers covered flesh. She was now fully-winged and it was time to go. Her eternal mission would wait no more. She jumped through the open window. She’d been right. He acted without thinking and dove after her, intent at a rescue and blinded by projected inadequacy. Even with wings … he couldn't fathom her capable of flight

Words and images are my own.

Even With Wings is published in Strays and was originally conceived during the 100 days of poetry on the Steem Blockchain. Stays is available through amazon and can be ordered in through your local libraries and bookstores. For more information or to further support my writing, click on any title below.