WINGS

CHAPTER ONE

Michael had just turned eighteen when he and his ten year old brother, Mason, moved in with their grandmother. She was kind, thoughtful, and very giving. The boys weren't ever ungrateful, though, given their past experiences, they tended to keep to themselves. As the older sibling, Michael was hard on himself and never trusted anyone where Mason's wellbeing was concerned. Unfortunately, their stay didn't last and it was a sad day when the estranged grandmother passed away three years later.

There hadn't been much history to speak of when it came to their parents. And their grandmother hadn't discovered she had grandkids until their parent's death. So, it was as much a surprise to her as it was to anyone else. Alternatively, leaving either of them no choice but to get to know her under the circumstances. Michael wasn't textbook smart, but he happened to be a large, muscular man for his age. He always had been quite large in stature and often used that to his advantage. It made getting laborious jobs easier. Thankless jobs at that. All it took was a business man, or owner, to see Michael's muscular physique. They saw dollar signs in productivity and cheap labor to boot. Michael stood at six foot when he turned twenty-one and was still growing.

At this point, it seemed nothing else mattered except how Michael was going to keep them both together and take care of Mason. Michael was determined. He had committed himself to learning everything he would need to know to keep the state from tearing apart the only family he had left.

Time wasn't on their side, and running away wasn't the smartest option, even though Michael had considered it. No, it was to be the last resort at best. While forced to grow up fast, he'd always been overprotective of Mason. He found him to be a more passionate and sensitive boy, although he was too young to remember the experienced hardships with their parents.

So, when challenged to step up as the older sibling, he saw no reason why Mason had to suffer. Everything Michael could remember portrayed their childhoods as having been dysfunctional. It had been that way between his parents since forever, always fighting, drinking. Screaming and yelling, and surely it was enough to drive anyone insane. He prayed that Mason would never have the nightmares he did. And that tid bit of information, he would forever keep to himself.

Meanwhile, he would deal with the problems at hand and take care of Mason the best he could. Michael was in some way gifted, well he called them, gut feelings. And there had always been one brewing about Mason for as long as he could remember. One that Michael came to understand and began to see flourish in Mason as he grew older. 

He wasn't a typical twelve-year-old boy, sure he appeared like other boys, except when he became more emotionally involved in something he believed in. Mason had a fiery passion that Michael admired, and at the same time, he was well aware of his brother's overall sensitivity to certain things. Yes, more sensitive in a way that made Mason more vulnerable on an emotional level. He would wait for the day to come when Mason would realize who he was, himself. Michael prepared himself over the years and swore he would be there to see him through.

Despite their age difference, Mason had only ever felt safe to Michael's affections of brotherly love, and his alone. Even as Mason matured a little more at thirteen, there were still many mornings he'd woken up to find Mason in his bed, curled up next to him. The identity of who Mason was as a person, would soon present itself. Michael would be prepared and accepting in every way. Of course, he would leave Mason with the choice of when or how, and meanwhile, he would be there to protect him and only encourage Mason to be the best self, he could be.

"I'm Katy Windhill, please to meet you," said the lawyer, sweeping a look over the contents of the folder. Michael had done his homework and learned she was one of the best in her field. "I've looked at your case file and I'm quite impressed."