I was born amidst a stormy night of trials and hailing fire,
born for things so great and still unseen. Raised to be wild and reckless,
heart stubbornly cold against the guidance of love so that when my wings had
grown to completion, I flew heedless of the voice of the shepherd.
From one fair city to
the next, I travelled, dwelling fully in each pleasure every place offered up.
I grew more restless with each tasted delight, heart seeking hungrily. Every
place of sinful desires left its mark on my feathers, weakening them and
causing feathers to slowly fall like autumn leaves. In the last shining city of
greed and temptation, I had only a skeletal frame on my back.
Grounded, panic
entered my heart as I heard the voice of my pursuer once more and I fled from
the city to an oasis. But to my horror, the oasis was only a mirage and when
daylight came, I found myself in an empty, scorching desert. Friendless and
broken, I lay in the sands as the sunlight beat mercilessly upon my fair skin.
In a half asleep
state, I often dreamt of better things, of what I knew could have been had I
only listened to that voice. And yet when that voice called to me in my dreams,
I woke myself up in terror. Hidden in sharp rocks like a snake, I gave up my
grip upon life, fully undeserving of it.
Then the call came
again, a soft whisper this time, gentle and far too kind to someone so vile.
Yet it persisted and I was too tired to flee again. Tears ran down my face as I
looked up at his face, his eyes mirroring mine. Yet I saw not a dark, angry
skeleton but a lonely and loved child. I flinched at his touch but then gasped
as healing shot through my shattered heart, all the pieces being pulled
together.
His gentle fingers
went over every scar, not taking them away but taking the despair that lay in
every groove. And then, beyond what I dared hope for, he created new feathers
and clothed my bones anew so I might fly with him. Fully redeemed, he held me
close and said he loved me. Then, heart humble and willing, I followed him into
the pale blue unknown, never to flee him again.
