Something has been missing from my life for a very long time. I never knew what it was until recently.

            When I was very young I thought that it was my palace and retainers; that I was meant to be royalty, but something had been messed up. Several years later I thought that it was magic. I had no magic in my life. And, just a few years ago, I thought it was respect for my intelligence. That was wrong, too.

            I am missing my wings. I cannot fly away. I am held to this poor earth by gravity, and I don't know how to get off of it. I have only my two legs to move by, which has limited my life. During harsh times I cannot run off, because it all became the same to me when I explored my limits years ago.

            I need to fly.

            There are chains that I can imagine, holding me to the ground. I can see the escape, I can taste the escape, but I cannot reach it. I feel where wings should be, and can envision their movements, the movements that would take me away from stress, from anger, from life, for just a little bit, until I was ready to return.

            I am told that that can never be. But I do not cease in believing. I will fly when I need to. When I feel the floor fall from under me, I do not worry. The fall might be long, and the day may be dark, but I will learn to fly. I might forget until the process begins again, but I will learn again.

            And though I feel trapped, I know the way out. Like trailing your hand along the side of the maze, it will be a long journey, but it will see me safely through.

            I have dived off of the cliff.

            And I will learn to fly.

            This time, I won't forget.

A.N.- I don't know if this is about a fictional character or myself (or yourself, depending). ~shrugs.~ your decision, I guess. ^_^