“Why are you out here?” Thalia screamed in my face. Lost at words, I gaped at the gigantic Shiny Thing, hoping she knew what I was referring to. “Are you crazy? Timmy! You are way in over your head!” She released my leg, and I stumbled on the pavement. As I gaze up to her, I felt my eyes tearing up. Something seemed so sincere in that outburst that I couldn’t help but feel like she meant it. “Why would you say that?” “Because you are! You think you’re greater than everybody else, just because you have wings. You live in your own fantasy world, where you think you can walk to the real human Shiny Tall Thing, when in fact, you’re just admiring a trash can! You live in a illusion. You have to come back to reality, and know your limits if you are ever to survive in this world! If you don’t, you’ll end up in that trash can or worse, crushed to death. You are not as big as you think you are, Timmy. You’re the smallest of us all. This insatiable desire of yours to explore the world is a death sentence!” Thalia paces up and down, frustrated. Her words pierced my heart, as she continues to belabor my quixotic actions. Her criticism becomes banal and anger starts rushing through my body. I stand up on all six’, and jostle Thalia to make way for my next destination. “Where are you going?” She yelled patronizingly. I’m usually not this peevish, but I won’t let anyone keep me from my dreams. “Far away. From you! From that stupid place where everyone is so damn docile!” “Stop it right now!” I continue walking steadily with no intent on doing so. I face the ground, focusing on my steps to limit my distractions. Her screams become echoes, audible yet unclear. Then suddenly a gigantic shadow overlaps me. “Watch out!” Thalia shrieks. I look up and a monstrous shoe is coming right down on me. I jump to the left with all the power I have and my head hits the concrete. I hear a squishing sound and my whole body aches with pain. The shadow disappears, as Thalia runs towards me. “O my god, your wings! They’re destroyed.” My legs spasm and I can’t see clearly. I try to stand up, but my body won’t cooperate. It’s over.
“Do you need help?” Thalia’s voice was sensitive, sincerely worried. “Go away,” I requested her. “But..” “Leave!” She startled. Her face saddened, but Thalia knew she shouldn’t push this moment. She walked away. Her silhouette disappeared, leaving me crippled on the ground. I force myself up. My legs sting with an indescribable sensation, and it feels like they can give way any second. I drag my body to the side of the pavement, where a lake-like puddle was located. I look into the water, but it’s too pure. It reflects everything that looks inside it and for the very first time in my entire life, I saw my own reflection staring right back at me. I observe my existence, and realize just how small and crippled I am. Reality plunges my heart, and I start feeling sick. Thalia’s words come back to mind, and I have a growing desire to drop myself in the water to drown. As I stare my insignificance in the eye, a similar shadow overcomes it and plummets into the lake. A giant wave soars into the sky, and crashes on the pavement. I’m soaked and distraught. The dried blood on my wings moistens and drips down the bent parts. “So this is what it’s come to,” I say to myself. I spare one more look to the Shiny Tall Thing, face from it, and start walking back to where I belong.