The butterflies return with vengeance
as I remove the mask and place it,
along with the rest of my disguise,
in a box beneath my bed.
My strange new persona might be
fearless,
but ordinary Gwen still
worries she is making a mistake.
She fears her father will find out,
that her mask will fall or her cowl will
slip.
She is terrified of detection,
wonders if she needs to
change her voice
as well as her name.
I don't like ordinary Gwen
very much any more.
If I could sleep in my
mask without fear
of my father discovering me,
I would put it back on.
Sonora -
the name I have given my new self -
wouldn't be afraid of her father.
She isn't afraid of anything.
But I am not Sonora on the night before
the audition.
I am Gwen, and I am slowly
eaten alive
by the anxiety worming its
way through my veins.
YOU ARE READING
On Sapphire Wings
FantasyA fantasy novel told in free verse. Gwen runs through the streets of Alaria but dreams of soaring through its skies. Her mother's tragic death while Iryss racing sees her ambition grounded by her overprotective father. But the biannual Iryss races...
