Kyle had said my wings were beautiful, then he complimented my creepy looking eyes.

It was simply amazing. He was simply amazing. He could bring light into even the darkest of situations. He was the light in my now dark world.

He always seemed to have a look of complete adoration in his eyes when he looked at me. It was insane. He looked at me like I was the best thing in the world, even when I was as unsightly as right now.

He had cleaned my wings though they were coated in blood. He had always taken care of me when I was sick. He was a mother that I never had. He was my best friend. He was all I had left.

I remember my childhood. I remember my father beating me after my mother left. I remember him calling me a monster, an abomination, and a bastard child. Saying I wasn’t his.

Then it hit me. Maybe this is what he was talking about. Maybe all those years I told myself that he was an insane drunk and didn’t know what he was saying, I was wrong. Maybe he was right, maybe he knew I was a monster.

I had zoned out. Kyle was shaking my shoulders with his warm hands and calling my name.

I looked at his eyes. What my father had said and did was irrelevant. Kyle so obviously cared about me. So what that monster said to me didn’t matter.

I looked at him and said “When I was young my father called me a monster. Do you think he was right?”

Kyle looked appalled. He near yelled “Of course not, you are in no way a monster. You are beautiful Ash.”

Once again Kyle had complemented me. I could hear the sincerity in his voice. He wrapped me in his arms. Pulling me into his chest. I could feel his warmth through the shirt he was wearing.

Kyle let go and pushed me off his chest so he could look in my eyes. He said “You are more special than you could ever know, don’t let anyone tell you different”

I felt the happiest I had ever felt. I knew the circumstances weren’t the best, but this day was turning for the better.

Then I heard my work alarm go off. It was 8:00. I had to get to work, or call in sick. It appeared to be the latter was the only option.

That was until I remembered, my work uniform had a few layers. If I did it just right, no one would notice the bulge of my wings.

I got to my room and grabbed an undershirt. I tried to put it on, it got stuck on my wings. I heard Kyle chuckling from the doorway, then he walked across the room and silently helped me dress myself.

I figured out that one I had on my undershirt, dress shirt, and vest. The wings weren’t noticeable at all.