Caged Body, Free Mind

The Girl Who Resided in a Cage

Among the branches of a great tree, one taller than some of the highest mountains, dangled a cage. Its steel bars shone brightly the sunlight they had reflected. The cage resembled that of a bird's cage, although the being it sheltered was nothing of the sort. The creature was more human than animal, possessing angel-like wings. The thick, pure white feathers were easily visible within the cage and could be seen even in darkness. The very edges of the majestic wings were lined with scarlet red feathers, standing out from the rest.
The girl who owned these wings had red hair with golden highlights to match. It was very rare indeed to come across a girl with such features. Her different-colored eyes were especially a once in a lifetime sight. Her left was a bright turquoise color, whilst her left eye was a chestnut brown. It was unclear how she had inherited such features, as very few people had blue eyes. However, they suit her well-no other colors could bring out the will, the passion, the blazing inferno within the soul behind her glossy orbs. The girl had light golden skin and wore a simple white tunic dress embroidered with little red swirls. The shoes she wore were white flats with minuscule red bows on their sides.
The girl's name was Ester, and her age was 16. She had almost entirely lived her life alone, within the cold, lonely bars of the cage.

When she was 5, she was put here by her own mother, for reasons she didn't know. Ester's mother then visited her every day after that, for a mere two years. She brought her food, possessions that she'd left behind, clothes, and, occasionally, gifts. Her mother made living here not so lonesome. Even so, it did not soothe her sense of isolation, it made it bearable.
Come her 7th birthday, Ester was excited about her mother's arrival, for she knew she'd bring gifts. She could hardly wait to see what unique objects she'd find wrapped in the folds of colorful paper. Just the day before, Ester's mother promised that this time around, her presents would be extra special. Ester awoke from her slumber that morning with bright, hopeful eyes, looking optimistically into the future. Ester still remembered that day like it was yesterday; the clouds in the morning sky were tainted pink and there were also some white fluffy clouds, moving and expanding ever so slowly. The tree had beautiful blossoms that spring, and the pink  blossoms danced gracefully in the fresh, cool breeze.
A little later, Ester noticed that it was a little past the usual time her mother came. Maybe she's late, she thought, she might be taking a little more time so she can prepare the best birthday presents ever! She passed time by observing the butterflies. Their delicate lavender wings flapped gently, taking them gracefully from flower to flower. Ester attempted to get them to come into her hands by grabbing handfuls of flowers, but it did not attract them any closer. Ester tried to occupy herself with anything that would keep her mind off of her mother's lateness. Hours passed, and Ester's mother never came.
At dusk, a middle-aged man, with no wings, visited her in place of her mother. He had messy brown hair, with a few streaks of grey in it, and wore a light brown jacket with worn dark grey pants. He had a bag of colorful wrapping paper with him. Ester looked at the man with curiosity in her eyes. It had been a long time since last saw another person up close besides her mother. She took notice of the look of pity in his eyes. A part of her registered that something was wrong.

The man lowered his head, a serious expression on his face. "I am so sorry to bring you such news, but your mother... has passed. I am her friend, William. You may call me Will. I have brought you the presents she intended to give you. I'll be taking care of you from now on. I'm very sorry for your loss."

With that said, William handed her the bag stuffed full of gifts through one of the openings in the bars. Ester took the gifts in her trembling hands; she couldn't bring herself to open them. He kept on speaking, but Ester heard nothing. Nothing but the deep sobs that she held inside, longing for her mother. She so desperately wanted to be held within her comforting arms again, to be reassured that nothing was wrong. That everything was going to be okay. That this was just another nightmare she will be waking up from soon.