I open the door and Swift comes tumbling through with a thud, his eyes open in fright at the sudden wakeup. I stride through before he can say his peace, I can only hope he works off his high and regret every second of it. His words thunder behind me as I push through our front door. I slam it behind me, stopping the cacophony of his voice that is now so alien to me. That person is not my family… family would never. Before the door opens behind me I take a running start towards the flight ramp, the ending approaches quickly, my claws creating music against the metal underneath me, arms spread behind me, gaining speed as much as possible.

I hit the edge of the ramp within seconds, the sun beating down on me, alighting my body downwards I watched the currents ahead of me, practicing countless times as a child, As I concentrated, feeling the vibrations of his voice behind me. Lost in the winds. I leap, breathing in the world, the overlapping rings in the world, the perfect place to fall through, If only I could fall all the way… No… not today Gale.

I reach the edges of no return, the 2nd last ring, My wings extend and I catch the breeze under me, instantly lifting me aloft, lifting me out of my revelry. I dive through it all, reaching the garden level, second from the bottom. My mother's favorite place in the world. With a clink I reach the flight ramp, landing gently against it to not alert any early workers in the area. It was still before sun bell, no one should be down here yet… I wanted to enjoy it on my own for a while…

The entrance to the gardens was open, its doors wide and encompassing, barely doors at all, accessible to all who come here… open day and night… Some of the council wanted to convert it to housing or offices, at one point when I was a child. At a time when the administration wasn't in full control of the council… before Dawn-Break ascended to his position. Better times, although you wouldn't hear anyone say that out loud. Maybe now it will be… or turned into his son's personal playground.

I sigh as I enter, my wingtips brushing against the old paint-covered walls, imagery of children playing, of mothers resting, of fathers protecting. Down the path, I walk slowly, with bushes and trees at each side. Such a beautiful place, a comfort to all that walk it, but nothing in this city was made just for relaxation, everything having a purpose. They cut off leaves to make fertilizer, and the dead wood to make tools. Everything here is more useful than me…

Twrip! I'm startled by the rustling bush in front of me, a critter jumping from one to the next, before seeing me and trying to flee. I bend down and look through it, at the sight of it shivering in the undergrowth. A flying fox… Its eyes are wide with fear as it looks at me, and then to any exits it can find. I step back, looking around I find a tree with some berries in it, coming back it’s still there, hiding, thinking it had lost me. As I peer at it it locks eyes with me, in horror that the beast has come back for more!

I reach through with the berries in my hands, it flinches backwards before realizing that something smells good. A small rumble starts coming from its stomach as it drools a little. With its tiny paw, it reaches out, slowly I move my hand closer, angling it as best I can so that the berries are closer to it. With a quick swipe, the berry is swatted off my hand and into its lap, its beady eyes looking up at me still as it engorges itself on the feast.

It’s young… much too young to be on its own, the flying foxes at such an age would have many siblings with them… it has small scars around its head. I pull back out of the bush and start heading back down the path, a destination in mind. A place that my mother loved more than any. Small noises and the rustling of leaves alert me to a companion to join me on this journey. I'm grateful for it, rather that of a creature than that of a human right now.

I reach the clearing, soft ground covered in toys, swings and ropes, places for kids to exercise. Everything a city could need to get them busy. I used to come here when I was a kid, not allowed to fly out in the open. It would be the best place for it, to lift myself up from rope to rope… Now I look at it and it’s unkempt, the toys look uncleaned, rubbish on the ground and stuffed under anything they can get, laziness or destructive… it’s hard to say anymore… All I know is that my city has changed.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

I keep walking, past the memories, the good and the bad that haunted me here, I was never one to stand down from a fight. Nor would I deny having spilt my blood here in fistfights before. The park ends, bringing more trees, bushes and the skittering of small paws as they dash behind me, trying their best to be sneaky, yet clearly overestimating themselves. I arrive at a small walkway, an open awning, off the beaten path. Knowing I will probably be angry at what I will find.

I go through it, turning through its short hallway. I grimace and hold back the tears, knowing that there's work to be done… then after I can let myself feel. A small alcove, a beloved garden of roses that my mother worked so hard to maintain. Mother was born a gardener, she always felt like she was more of the earth than the sky. Each day she would maintain this garden, tending to it, loving it, caring for it.

It was a tradition in our city that when you were declaring your intent for marriage you would present your love with a single rose from this garden… This garden was our only roses, and so people would go to her with only the best intentions and readiness to enact their vows with their loved ones. It brought her so much joy to fulfill their wishes, making sure that they grew enough to do so. Even more so when one day my father asked her for a rose, to give it back to her.

Then one-day Dawn-Son came to me with such a smile on his face, it wasn't love, it was a sadistic want that he needed me. He brought me an entire handful of roses, cut straight from the garden. Such disgust I’d had towards him from that day, that someone could ruin such a thing for so many Icarisians. It took years for my mother to undo his work… and all he got was a smack on the wrist from the council for what he did, ‘boys will be boys’ they said.

In front of me, barely any roses left, a garden left to rot, the plaque that was put there after my parent's death scribbled and painted on with swear words, the metal marred with monstrous intentions. I open a small compartment on the side of the room, a metal scrub and bucket lay within. I quickly fill up the bucket from one of the garden taps and get to work. Enduring the pain in my hands and muscles as I work all the bad feelings away. My own catharsis, wishing I could rub the evil off this city the same way.

Barely realizing the world around me passing by, the Sun bell sounds. From next to me a small squeak startles me, the sun bell apparently startling them as badly. The flying fox had scrambled back against the wall, then into the small compartment containing cleaning supplies for comfort. The small room was too open for such a small creature.

I laugh at it softly, before looking at the plaque and my tears start flowing instead, first gently and then with such painful force. Cupping my head in my hands from the feelings running through my head and my heart as I let out everything that has happened, and everything that will happen, all my fears and anxiety. Will I even be able to visit this place again? Will this be the last time I read my mothers words?

The plaque in front of me read, “For those that love, and those that will love. Please take a rose, may your lives be filled with as much happiness as it was for me to grow them.”

A fucking mockery as this garden was abandoned so soon after her death. This place is a reminder of all the good things gone from this world! I hear the workers start to move around the garden, but not wanting to give up this space I try to cry as quietly as possible. I feel warmth on my legs and small paws touch my elbow. I open my eyes and in my face is the flying fox, its eyes wide in what feels like worry… I know they are intelligent but… I bring a hand down slowly, working my way to my thigh next to it. It moves, one leg at a time, my hand moving down further into my thigh from the unexpected weight of this surprisingly chubby creature.

It slowly sniffs my hand, its warmth encompassing my heart as it finds a comfortable place, as it paws my hand, twirling around as if finding the perfect spot. Slowly it closes its eyes, and within seconds falls asleep as I watch on. life in my hand, maybe a friend… something I haven't had in years. With my other hand I slowly brush its head, down to its nose, its ears moving erratically as it sleeps. The hurt in my head is gone, despite the pain in my heart remaining. Just one action from another allowing me such peace… and in the garden of my birth-giver no less… this feels like a sign. But of what… hope? There is none left… not here… not while Dawn-Son is around.

I stand up slowly, brushing the tears from my eyes. I have to give my answer, but first… I have some work to do.