The Summer I Grew Wings: Volume 2

{ Home Sweet Home }

{ ... }

a field with flowers of yellow and gold
my mom spins in the pollen, or so i was told
her smile has been brighter
the spirit inside her
away from the tiger
who's claws were so cold

i run with the hands that cover my eyes
the blue that does barrel rolls up in the skies
i'm hiding behind this
my hands are a fortress
to block out the purpose

of bandages, why?

the black fog clears from memories hidden deep inside the back of my mind. and i see her... mom...
i couldn't see her chest rise and fall like it usually does... and how her expression held, she didn't look like she was peacefully sleeping... she looked... so lifeless. it wasn't my mom... but at the same time it was, it just didn't feel like her.

'mom??... mommy? wake up... mommy!... mommy wake up! wake up please!!! mom?!.. MOM!!"

{ Travis's Perspective }

"MOM!!"
i yell as sprint towards her standing next to her car. i never thought id see her again, but here i am running to hug her. she hugs me back almost falling over, holding the back of my head and squeezing me tight

"oh travis!!.. my baby"
she says, her voice is so gentle. the words warm my body and i bury my face into the side of her neck. i've grown much taller than her now. she pulls away from the hug and holds each sides of my face as she looks at me with tears in her eyes
"my sweet boy, how you've grown!... you're so tall now"
she says smiling. i see how gracefully she's aged, and how getting out of nockfell has treated her. the wrinkles on her face barely prominent. she looks just how i remember her looking, except so much happier.

"i know!..i can't believe im actually looking at you again"
i say, a tear falls from my face, as one falls from hers too. she giggles
"and hugging me!! you're here now baby, you're home."
she says... and i couldn't agree more. i'm finally home.

we get in the car and she asked me how the travel was, i tell her about my escape mission, how dad has no clue where i am or where im going, and how much easier it was for me to get out of there than i thought. she rolls the windows down and we start cruising down the highway. she tells me foods waiting for us at home, how i get to meet my grandma and see my sisters again, and how excited they are to see me. i had madeline's number and i called her a couple times but... she thought it was a prank call so she stopped picking up after a while. beyond that i haven't spoken to either of my sisters since they left. i can't wait to see them. it hasn't been as long as it feels. my mom left only 4 years ago... but it feels so much longer than that. she asks me about school and i tell her how i'm graduating even though ive missed two of my exams. and how i had to tell the school i wasn't going to make it to grad either. she tells me that maybe we should've waited until summer but... i just stay silent and stay looking out the window

"so... how do your friends feel about you leaving?"
she asked
"they were... supportive of it. i guess you could say"
i say, she smiles
"they really don't like my dad... i mean.. neither do i. but you remember larry right?"
i say... i see her expression change
"larry?"
she asks, i nod
"yeah that little boy i always used to have over, his mom is lisa... you know..."
i say, she nods
"of course!... yes larry, i remember him"
she says
"we're friends again!... at least i think we are. he talked to me just yesterday about everything, and we've been you know getting into fights a lot so that explains why i look all beat up..."
i say, she shakes her head and giggles