Wings to Fly

She closed her eyes and counted backwards, eight, seven, six, five . . . .

It never took the full eight seconds — counting was just a way to ignore the yelling around her. When she opened her eyes again, the hallway was filled with hundreds of butterflies, all nestled on the walls.

The ugliest words, the ones that hurt the most, were always the most beautiful, their lacy wings made from the patterns on her tear-stained face. As her breathing slowed, their wings started to flutter and they formed a multi colored cyclone, swirling and swirling until they vanished.

“No.”

She was back.

This short story is a part of the illustrious Flash Fiction Friday. Read the other lovely stories, spun off the prompt: "The hallway was filled with hundreds of butterflies, all nestling on the walls." at the links below!

Brianne Dosch * Tiffany Jones * Kat!e Larson * Quinlyn Shaughnessy * Lady Violet