Whispers on a Wing

Chapter Three

Sorry for the days delay guys, I had a horrible filling put into my wisdom tooth yesterday and was feeling pretty delicate all day! But here it is for you ☺️
Also thank you to those who are commenting/voting and letting me know that you're enjoying this so far, means a lot!! Xx

I sagged in relief as the bell rang, signalling the end of the school day. It wasn't that the day had seemed particularly long, it was more the fact that I could now go home and unstrap my wings. Since that day all those years ago, when that girl had seen my secret, I hadn't escaped school to stretch them once. I had learnt that it was too risky to do so and even if they sometimes hurt like hell from the awkward position they had to be strapped down in, it was ten times better than the alternative.

I shoved all my books into my locker, having already done my homework for the evening during my free period, before slamming the door shut and made my way out towards the back of the school. I had found that this was the best place to fly in and out of during the school day. Most of the students and staff were heading towards the car park outfront, making their way towards their cars and school buses so they could escape school until tomorrow. That left the back of the school fairly empty, only the odd teacher who had stayed behind to mark papers or the janitor starting his shift to buff the floors and empty the bins, but they were all easy to avoid.

I snuck out through the back door and across the school grounds until I made it to the forest line. Once out of sight I breathed a sigh of relief as I shed my trusty parka  coat and pulled my multiple layers up to reveal my stomach, or more accurately, the bruised flesh that had been stained purple and yellow from the many years of wearing these belts.

There were only two of them, one close to my bra line and one lower, towards my hips, but they definitely left their mark. Unfortunately, for them to effectively do their job and hide my wings, they had to be kept tight, so tight that the metal constantly dug into me and bruised my skin. I had gotten used to the feeling over the years, and by now I'm sure my body was pretty much immune to it, barely feeling the tightness of them as I went about my day.

I sighed as I ran my fingers along the old leather before sucking a sharp breath in as I tightened the belt slightly to release the buckle from the hole I'd made in the leather. That bit was always the worst, the pinch as my skin got momentarily trapped between the metal and leather, but it was always worth it as sweet relief ran through me as they fell at my feet. First one, then the other.

I'm sure there was an easier way of hiding them, a more effective and pain free way to conceal who I truly was from the world, but unfortunately working with what little I had, this was the best I could come up with. It was enough, I hadn't been found out in years.

I smiled in relief as the second belt fell at my feet and with one last quick look around at my surroundings I took off my last layer, a long sleeve t-shirt, to reveal my jet black wings. I held my breath as I waited for the feeling to return.

I could feel my blood rush through the starved veins of my wings, and sighed as I relaxed into the sensation. It was one of the best feelings, like when you can feel your limbs waking up after you've been leaning on them. The only difference was the pins and needles you got after, I hadn't had that feeling since I was twelve years old.

I rolled my neck as my wings started to relax against my back and the feeling returned to them before uncurling them to their full wing span and flapping them a few times.

I honestly never got bored of seeing them. Even after all the trouble they had caused me throughout my teenage life, there was still no better feeling than sailing through the breeze on a warm spring morning as the birds woke up for the day and decided to join you for a morning fly. I knew I was lucky in that aspect, no one could experience the views or feelings that I got to on a daily basis, and I always made sure to remind myself of that everyday, no matter how much of a crappy day I was having.