Healed

Chapter 27

Flame had almost forgotten how much he hated Possibility. Almost.

He landed down near the bridge that connected the two halves of the town across the Great Five-Tail River, but as soon as his talons touched the dry soil he could feel everyone's gaze flicker towards him and lingered on his scarred face before quickly looking away.

"Assholes," he murmured under his breath. Keeping his head down he shouldered his way through the crowd, eyes locked on the ground before to avoid meeting anyone's gaze.

It was strange how different it felt to be here again after living at the Healing Center. Here everyone was so fake. They greeted you with a smile but as soon as you turned away they had a disgusted sneer on their face. It was like they thought of ugliness or imperfections as some sort of disease; if you get too close you'll get it as well! Or worse they act TOO kind towards you and you just know it's out of pity and that they feel obligated to do so.

But at the Healing Center pretty much everyone was messed up in some way. After a while it was just common to see someone without a limb or someone mumbling to themselves while obsessively polishing a spoon.

Following the flow of the crowd Flame finally approached the town center which was really just a worn down gazebo where announcements were made and sometimes local bands played. Pushing his way off the main road he stumbled into a quiet side street that lead to his old home. The dens here were wooden and above ground but high enough to stop the sharp angle of the morning sun. As a result the whole alley was dim with shadow and a coolness hung in the air that made Flame shiver.

He walked a little ways down before making another right turn onto his street. The fifth house down was his. The squat building was nestled tightly between its neighbours. Small potted flowers sat to either side of the door, their blush coloured petals drooping slightly from dehydration. The window shutters were closed tightly and there was a foreboding air clinging to the bland walls.

Up until this point Flame's resolve had pushed him forward, but now it was depleting rapidly as the weight of the moment finally hit him. He was going to confront his mother. No backing down this time.

His legs were shaking so hard he nearly collapsed once he reached the front door.

Growling he pulled himself up and lifted his chin. Stop being such a coward! What's the worst that can happen?

During his whole flight here he had obsessed over how this conversation with his mother would play out. He was trying to take an optimistic approach to the whole thing but he was quickly becoming overwhelmed with fear. So many things could go wrong. What if he lost his temper again? What if she lost her temper? Would she be angry that he left the Healing Center and drag him right back? What if she didn't answer his questions? Or worse...what if her answers were everything he feared.

Flame swallowed the cold lump in his throat. It slithered down his neck and landed in his chest in a tight knot around his heart. Ugh, why am I so terrified? She's my mother. She loves me. She has to, right?

As much as he tried to reason with himself, he couldn't stop of the onslaught emotions that slipped into his consciousness, bringing forth all the questions he feared the most.

If she loves you so much then why didn't she write to you? Why does she keep sending you away?

Shut up! he screamed to himself but to no avail.

Is it because she can't bear to look at you anymore? Who could ever love a deformed dragonet?

SHUT UP!