She was lying in the middle of a grassy meadow.  Clouds rolled past her, trapped in slow motion as the wind made the grass look like a graceful, flowing ocean that spread for miles.  She smiled and closed her eyes as the warm sun caressed her body, sighing with pleasure as the breeze kissed her face gently.
        So peaceful.
        The beautiful silence gave her ears joyous rest from her loud and tumultuous household.  Though Lorenne and her husband, Markel, cared for her, she could not help but feel trapped in a cage; forever the outsider trying to get in.  But here, deep in this breathtaking place tucked safely away in her dreams, she felt at home.  
        The tall grass tickled her pale skin as it rolled back and forth with the wind.  She opened her eyes slowly, looking into the clouds that lazily floated by; giant, fluffed-up pictures that constantly changed shape with each new train of thought and wind.  
        Did my parents ever find a place like this?  Did they find it more appealing than returning to their daughter?  She sighed, troubles rolling in with a thunderous clap.  Rain began to cascade down, cold water coming to rest on her skin with each plop. Did they really want me?  Lightning struck not far from her.   Why did they give me to Lorenne and just run off?  Were my parents really that irresponsible?  A multitude of questions assaulted her mind all at once in  resentful confusion as thunder roared across the skies, the rain becoming a merciless and cruel deluge of sadness.  Lightning kept striking all around her, the grass burning away under the intense heat.  She ignored the havoc her thoughts were causing.    
        Lorenne said once that she was my aunt, but she wanted to try to be a mother to me since mine could not.  She sat up, closed her eyes and pushed her painful thoughts away.  The clouds rolled away and the sun came out of hiding, timidly bathing her with light.  It’s not like they cared anyways.       
        “I’m so sorry, Serapha.” A cold but loving voice whispered.
        “Who is there?” She called out, deep amethyst eyes searching for the owner of the voice, hoping to behold a familiar face but found nothing but grass and trees in the distance.    
        “Soon you will know everything,” the voice continued softly, floating around on the breeze.  “I am sorry.  You will have a burden placed upon you that no being should ever have to bear.” The sorrow within the voice cascaded into her mind, plunging it into curiosity and bewilderment.  
        “What burden?  Who are you?  Where are you?” She yelled in frustration as she stood up, scanning the area again.  The results were the same—no one was there.   
        “You will know soon enough.  Life has given you wings, Serapha.  Use them wisely.” The voice faded away from her mind, leaving her alone in the meadow again.
        The wind whipped her auburn hair into her face as the muscles on her shoulder blades stretched and changed.  She cried out and lifted her membranous black wings, outstretched, to the sky…


        “Seraph, get up!  It’s time for school!” Lorenne called from downstairs.
The girl opened her eyes quickly and blinked, disoriented.  
        
        _{Only a dream….}  

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