Loss

        Clair looked out of her window at the ocean outside. She was restless, she knew, but she couldn't go out and play under the sun's rays. 

        “It's too dangerous,” her Nana would say, “What if Malcolm or one of his was out there. Where would you be then?” 

        'I'd be dead. Very, very dead.' 

        If only her father had been a good man, then they wouldn't be in this mess. If 'if only's could change the world, Clair's world would have been carefree years ago. 

        She would have 'if only'ed her parents alive. 

        Her ribbon-like antenna that grew out of the center of her forehead twitched, the trestle ends sparking. Someone was coming. Clair hurried to her hiding place, fearing the worst. 

        In came an old woman. Bent over, with graying antenna, Clair's Nana looked worried all the time, but now, her distressed look was even worse. 

        “Clairkitdra!” 

        Clair ran to her grandmother. “What, Nana! What's wrong?” 

        “You must leave here, Clairkitdra! Now!” Nana rushed to the window and opened it. “Hurry! There is no time!” 

        “No, Nana!” Clair put her hand on the other woman's arm. “I won't leave you here! Not with Malcolm-” 

        “No,child.” Nana went to her table and got out two velvet bags. One held Clair's life savings, the other her Cards. She pushed both into Clair's hands. “You must flee. I will not betray your mother.”         The younger woman took the bags and put them in the special cloth pouch around her waist. She begged, “Promise me you'll be alright, Nana.” 

        “I'll do the best I can,' her mother's mother said as she pushed Clair toward the window. “Now,go!”         Clair jumped out the window and changed in the same instant. She traded her frail human body for a powerful snake one. Weak arms for metal wings. Odd feet for natural fins. Her antenna sparked and a metal beak dominated her face. She shrieked her pain at the sky and flew into the distance.

Author's Note

Enjoy.