Lost Wings — #writephoto

Sue Vincent's #writephoto prompt

A fairy, Christine, lost her wings on top of a hill overlooking the glen while watching the orange sky accept the setting sun. She did not think she was so old. She picked up her wings sighing “Oh!” and stumbled down to the glen on foot aided by moonlight. The other fairies greeted her with relieved laughter since she was gone so long and then tears when they saw her wings. Her transformation had begun.

Sylvia came to wish her farewell. She told Christine about the completed transformation of her fairy-child that morning. She cried and Christine comforted her.

Samuel came to wish her farewell. He told Christine about the completed transformation of his fairy-wife that morning. He cried and Christine comforted him.

Rose, another fairy, a teenage one, came to wish her aunt farewell. Her father told her she had to. She looked into Christine’s eyes. “Look deeper,” Christine suggested. To her surprise Rose saw her own eyes gazing back at her. She cried and Christine comforted her.

A fairy without wings can remain only so long. Christine regretted not doing whatever it was she was meant to do but did not have the imagination or the will to realize. “May I look into your eyes?” Rose wiped away the tears. When Christine looked, they both smiled.

Linked to Sue Vincent’s #writephoto prompt.
Photo provided by Sue Vincent for this prompt.

The chain of inspiration comes from Jane Dougherty’s challenge to write folk tales based on Jeren Nazuto’s poem responding to Jilly’s poem based on Jim Harrison’s “fragile wings”.

Sue Vincent's #writephoto icon

Author: Frank Hubeny

I enjoy walking, poetry and short prose as well as taking pictures with my phone.

48 thoughts on “Lost Wings — #writephoto”

  3. A very lovely and well written but story but also sad at the same time. I’m wondering if losing her wings means she becomes human? Or if she is going to pass on in death? I think the latter but somehow I’d like to think there’s a new life and new adventures ahead for this fairy.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. I think I read it more as the ‘sweet’ than the ‘bitter,’ Frank. Really enjoyed reading this! Also, I admire how well you have kept track of the trail of crumbs as one idea begets another and then there is a snowball.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I don’t know. Instinct should not assume determinism which I don’t think exists except in our mathematical models of reality. There are choices involved with how our biological constraints manifest themselves. I am not sure what “refined” means, but thank you for your comment!

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Pingback: Lost Wings — #writephoto – Frank Hubeny | Sue Vincent's Daily Echo

  20. Jumped over to read from Sue’s blog. Transformation – a butterfly gets it’s wings, a fairy loses hers. And yet she comforts others, as it seems she has always done. Surely there is more “beyond” for this aging fairy – and for each of us as well. Lovely story.
    xx,
    mgh
    (Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
    ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
    “It takes a village to transform a world!”

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Pingback: Photo prompt round-up – Alone #writephoto | Sue Vincent's Daily Echo

Comments are closed.