"The Nightengale Wings Away" by Holly ´bat baby´ Davidson

We had endless games of tag, hide and go seek. We spent nights in our tree house, in the back yard. It was built in the tree that was exactly in the middle of the property line. We told secrets, played imaginary games where we were fairies, had pillow and tickle fights.

The physical games tricked to a stop when we reached middle school. I was a boy, she was a girl. Our bodies were maturing and we respected each other's boundaries. We talked on the phone and on the Internet. On the weekends we rode our bikes to town and bought candy, then sit on swings to eat and talk.

I can't remember the moment I fell in love with her. It was almost like one day she was my best friend, and the next, she was my best friend and crush. But one day I realized her short black curls had transformed into long luxurious ones. Her tomboy face had leaned out, her short almost chubby body had grown tall and thin.

My best childhood tomboy, bully fighter friend had turned into a quiet gorgeous young woman. I was mystified. I tried to forget the butterflies I felt when I spoke to her. I tried to dismiss the want to kiss hr full lips when she whispered a secret into my ear. It was all futile.

Then, when I was 17, my parents moved away, taking me with them. my father decided to move on in the firm to get more money and a higher status. My mother wanted to start a new career. All the hopes and dreams of my parents apparently lied in the big city. I had to leave my one and only, friend, companion, love, she didn't know about the last one.

I had her over the day before we moved. We watched a movie in my basement. That's where I told her. I had to turn my face as hers scrunched up in sorrow. She turned her head as tears sprung to her face. I couldn't bear to see her like this. I opened my arms to her and she turned and hugged me. Her tears fell salty on my neck. I hated myself, even when it wasn't my fault.
I left the next day, giving her my necklace to remind her of me. She gave me her ring. She stood there in my old driveway, standing so still, watching me go. My dad behind the wheel, my mother chatting, oblivious to my predicament. They didn't seem to care about my feelings. I am 17 and they didn't even ask me what I wanted to do. And as I rode down the road, I wanted nothing more but to get out and run back.

That was four years ago. After high school, which was lonely, I went to collage and made friends with my dorm roommate. I never forgot about her. I still wore her ring. My buds think that there is something wrong with me, that I don't ask girls out, and that I don't accept dates from them. But I am still in love with her.

I thought all this as I sat in a coffee bar down town. It was one of those coffeehouses that had live local musicians play at. Short theatrical productions, singers, bands and solo artists all played.

I entered the building and was blasted with warm air, and the smell of coffee. I found my usual place and sat down. I orders the usual and pulled out my current novel. The usual bands played and had my toes tapping as I sipped at my coffee. Then some one new

The owner came on.

" I would like to present Savana Blue."

I almost choked on my coffee

" She just moved here a week ago and is a sprouting young artist. So without further delay, Savana ."

A woman walked onto the stage. She was, to put it bluntly, a Goth. A long black skirt, with black boots and a black lace top. She had black lace lady's gloves on. She was pale and had very dark lashed. Deep, deep red lips, and long black luxurious curly hair.

I knew as soon as I saw her that her real name wasn't Savana . It was Ruth. Savana was the name she told a 10-year-old boy she would use when she ran away. The house band began playing and her deep throaty voice filled the air. I knew this woman. She was the 17-year-old girl I left behind four years ago.

As I watched her thin body sway to the music, I slowly fell in love with her all over again. Since I left, I haven't been the shy type, so I grabbed my backpack and went to meet her back stage.

" Hi. Remember me?"

She turned, her curly hair flying about her head to settle past her shoulders. She regarded me quietly. Her eyes widened then narrowed in thought. " Do I know you?" she asked. Her hand flew to a necklace that adorned her throat. The necklace that I had given her.

" Yeah, my name is Alex." I said smiling. Her eyes widened again

" Alex?" she whispered " is it really you?"

" Yeah it is, Ruth-" I couldn't finish because the words were knocked from my throat as she flew forward and hugged me. Her hands clutched at my back and she nuzzled her face into my neck. " Oh I missed you Alex." She said. " I missed you so much!"

" I missed you to." I breathed, as I smelt her hair. She pulled away from me. I flinched inwardly. I didn't want to ever let go of her. She took hold of my wrist. " Come, let's get out of here."

She led me to a small black car. We climbed in and drove to her apartment. We sat over coffee and scrabble, on her deck, as we talked late into the night. We talked about everything, the weather, the city, jobs, my housing situation, and then the stars. We gazed at the stars, recalling the constellations and patterns we had made as kids.

I watched her, more in love with her now as I had ever been. I felt like I could burst when she turned to me, her black eyes watery with silent tears. I wiped them away with my thumb. She smiled through her tears but then shook her head. " No…I can't do this again…"

" What?" I asked thoroughly confused

" I cant let myself do this again." She said as she got up and put her hands on the black iron bars of the deck rails.

" Do what?" I asked as I cupped her elbow with my hand. She shrugged her shoulder removing her self from the contact. She closed her eyes as if in deep pain.

" Fall in love again." I was taken back

" What?" I asked again

" I loved you Alex. Ever since I was nine. Now that you're here, I feel myself falling again." She turned again, her tears running silver in the starlight.

" I loved you to…and now-"

" You don't understand…I can't love you?"

I felt like someone punched my stomach. I swallowed an unexpected torrent of tears " why…"

" I don't know why I am telling you this…I am not human…I don't know how or why but…" as she spoke wings slipped from her back. They were like sparrow's wings dipped in iridescent soot. I didn't waver.

I took her chin in my hand. " That doesn't matter. Because I am like you." As I said this butterfly wings of the same colour folded from my back, ripping my shirt. She looked at my wings then at me her arms wound around my neck and she hugged me.

And then I knew. I knew that in that one embrace that it was all ok. She was mine, we were in a renewed love. My soul filled with an indescribable joy. She was mine, I was hers, and that was all that mattered.