Learning How To Fly

• Alyssa Carr, Grade 12
• Short Story
• 2013

My rapid heartbeat echoed in my ears, almost drowning out all surrounding noise. Almost. Unfortunately, I wasn’t so lucky and the shouts of my name along with insults still tore at my heart, punctuated by the occasional fist or boot harshly targeting my stomach. I knew I couldn’t stop them on my own, but I couldn’t help but try. I stood when my attackers paused and braced myself again, facing things head on. Even if fight or flight were my only options, I couldn’t run, and fighting wasn’t an option.
I shut my eyes and waited for a punch that never came. I opened my eyes to see my attackers frozen in fear and turned to see something only feasible in my nightmares: my old bullies. A flutter in my heart was the only warning when my legs gave out in renewed fear. The people I had feared most were standing in front of me, glaring ahead at the scene.
As my mind slowly started shutting down, I looked up desperately, hoping for something to stop this, but nothing came. All I saw was an eagle flying above, and I wished I could do the same. I wanted to fly away, to escape.
I snapped out of my trance at a moan of pain, swinging my head back to see a classmate turned bully down on his knees, hand to his cheek. I looked up in time to see one of my unlikely saviours about to swing yet again.
I jumped up with a shout, “No!”
Everyone turned to look at me, and again I wanted to escape, but this time out of anxiety. I struggled to breathe until I felt a strong hand on my shoulder. As I turned and saw the three people I used to fear most nodding supportively, I felt my fears slowly melt away. And then I was flying.
I smiled as I leaned down, hand out to my classmate. He took it hesitantly and I pulled him up as he stared, but I just smiled. I let go of his hand and of patted his shoulder roughly. I said only, “I forgive you.”
At that, I turned and walked away, only I wasn’t running. This time I was flying. I glanced briefly over my shoulder to see my saviours still following me, faces plastered in cheeky grins. I didn’t complain when a hand ruffled my hair slightly and just laughed as the light feeling in my chest just grew more enjoyable.
I smiled again when I thought about that bird and dismissed my previous thoughts. I definitely didn’t need that kind of flight. It’s like that kite you see in the park; it’s flying, but can never get away, and it doesn’t want to, because it knows that it needs its tether for support, lest it be blown away by in wind. Like a kite, I was tied to the people around me in ways I would never admit. They helped me to fly.