I reach out. As far as my arms will let me. There is nothing here. Just me. Here I find serenity.

    The wind whips through my hair... Between my fingers... Ruffles my 
feathers... It blows against my face. So fast, so hard... Almost 
brings a tear to my eye... Almost

    The warmth of the sun dances across the bridge of my nose onto my 
cheeks. They become rosy with delight. Bringing back sweet memories 
of my childhood.

    Life was so easy then. So innocent & new. I had not a care in the 
world. No reservations... No worries... More importantly... No Fear!

    Alas... Those days are far too gone. And once again, I find myself 
back in this place. I've been here before.

      Much too young when I first took flight. Yet still I soar. All 
my life... As far back as I can remember. I have been flying.. A 
constant search for something true. Something real.

    I've desperately tried so hard to fly high. As high as I can. Up. 
Through the storm clouds. Higher. Out of sight of all my enemies. So 
many predators...

    But then...  after too long... I start to descend. Just enough to 
get a closer look. That's when I usually let my curiosity get the 
best of me. Not this time!

    I have fallen hard from this place before. I've been shot down, 
captured, caged, & tortured. All for someone else's amusement.

    Yet somehow... Each time... I have still been able to find my way 
back to freedom.

    Freedom. We long for it. Freedom. We fight so hard for it. We die 
for this beauty we call freedom.

    I have licked my wounds. I am strong now. Stronger than ever 
before. I am wise now. Wiser than ever before.

    I only take with me that which I need. My heart, my soul, my 
knowledge, ... my pride.

    I go where the wind blows. Makes no difference to me. However, 
this time it feels quite different than ever before.

    The air is much thicker. Harder to breathe. I am safe, but oddly 
enough, it's not the same serenity as I had always found.

    It makes me wonder... Why do I fly anyway? Is it truly for 
freedom? Or is it simply out of fear? And whilst I soar... Am I really 
just missing out on it all?

    In this constant battle within myself. Searching for a flicker of 
light in this vast darkness... An angel amongst the demons.

    If nothing else. I've realized one real thing. Life is beautiful! 
Its meant to be embraced & truly lived! To the fullest!

    I cant do that way up here. I must fight hard... Love harder... 
Live life through childlike eyes. No Fear! Never settling for anything 
less than what I deserve.

    Its so hard though. In reality I am petrified! And... I'm safe 
here. The view is amazing. But does that even matter when I'm the only 
one to see it.

    Besides... I am so tired of flying. My wings ache... No one truly 
knows how I long to land. I cant.. No! I won't let them... But its all 
I've ever really wanted.

    This time I need to be smart. I will be smart! This time I won't 
just slip and fall. This time... I, and I alone, chose when I land. 
Where I land.

    This time... I will not land in a trap. Only to be put on display 
as if I were a trophy piece.

     I will not land in quicksand! Where I might sink into the pits of 
broken promises.

     Not even on a rock! As they are far to cold, hard, and rigid.

    This time when I land, it will be on solid ground. On the plush 
grass where I can feel it all.. One foot at a time. In my own personal 
heaven.

    To feel the earth between my toes... To tuck these wings away... 
Once and for all... To be free... To be me...

   That my friend would be true freedom... True happiness... Isn't 
that in fact, all any of us want. 

By Mickie James