I Want To Fly

You sit up from your chair, and turn off your radio. The news station has been broadcasting warnings for days, but they have no idea what is happening. The hosts changed almost hourly, and you were sick of it. How many times were they going to apologize to you? “We are quite sorry, but our last host- left the building. Do not worry, we will continue broadcasting!” The last host announced. He was an older man with a professional tone, but his voice did not seem suited for radio. Was he training? Was he even meant to be on air? Did the radio station lose all of its personalities? You cast these thoughts aside. You are no longer interested in hearing the news coverage, because none of the stations know what is happening. You fiddle with the dial on the unpowered radio, and watch the needle move. You ponder the news station’s warnings while toying with the radio. Why is it important that we stay inside? One of the hosts claimed to see a group of people float into the air. Has gravity failed us? Where have those people gone? You pull your hand away from the dial, and sit up from your chair. You decide that you need to keep yourself busy to pass the time, and begin moving to your kitchen. You still have some coffee left, so you pull a mug out of your cabinet and fill it. You move to a different cabinet to grab the sugar, when you take a look out of the window. It is clear outside, and very nice. You notice a nest sitting in a tree outside. The tree is so young but it already houses birds. You wonder if the nest already has eggs. The thought of birds reminds you of the new broadcast, and you begin to ponder what the hosts were warning about. Floating people is so hilariously impossible, that it must be a hoax. Still, you can’t help but wonder why it was being reported in the first place. You have heard of a fictitious news broadcast before, but you did not have a radio during the time. You will not let yourself be fooled by a work of fiction, so you shake off the warnings.

Because you no longer believe the warnings, you decide to sit on your patio while you drink your coffee. You take a sip from your mug, and place it on a nearby table. A cool breeze shakes the trees around you, and you spot a cloud behind the greanery. It is the only cloud in the sky, and you wonder what it sees. What kind of view does a cloud enjoy? What if you were to start floating right now, just like a cloud? You chuckle at the thought. There are very few buildings in the area, so the view would be grass, trees, and the dirt roads. The sight would be dull, yet comforting. Of course, a city from the sky would be a treat to see, but you do not have that luxury. The cloud you have been gazing moves behind a tree, so the sky is fully open.

You feel invited by the bright blue sky. Being a cloud would be relaxing.

The feeling makes you uneasy, however. You dare not leave the shade of the patio. Why are your thoughts irrational? Why are you afraid to leave the shadow? The sky could not “invite” you, and people can not fly like clouds. You slow your thoughts to regain your composure. You want to stay inside.

You sit up in haste, and grab your mug. As you move to the door, your vision rises. Your feet are no longer planted on the patio. Was this the fate of the radio hosts? The sky has been claiming victims for days, but you never believed it. Rapture? Abduction? The home you left is far out of your reach now, yet you still grasp at it. “Another one!” A voice behind you yells. A mass of poor souls is tracing the sky above you. You rise toward the mass. Screaming, crying, and questioning strike your ears, but your fright leaves you muted. You stare in the direction of the mass, and examine each of the victims. You can not determine a pattern in them, and realize the force that pulls you is not discriminate for any reason. Women, children, and men of all ages, colors, and sizes surround you. “Um, sir,” a kid in front of you beckon’s your attention, “Do you know what is happening?” The kid is shaking violently, they are terrified. Despite your own fear, you must reassure the kid. Despite your determination, you can not find words for them, so you reach out your hand. The kid looks at it, and cautiously grabs hold of you. “Everything is alright,” you lie, “Look, don’t the fields look nice from up here?” The kid looks at you with tears in their eyes, then down. The mass of people around you begin to disperse, but you make sure to keep hold of the kid. The kid wipe their eyes. “It’s scary up here.” The kid’s mumbles, squeezing your hand harder. You do not know what will happen to you, but you keep your act for the kid. After a brief silence, you stretch your free arm out. “We’re birds, see!” you grin, “I was a pilot, you know! I know all about flying!” The kid grows a faint smile, and slowly holds their arm out too. “I can fly now too.” The kid comments. You take your gaze off of the kid, and look around. The group of people have left. You focus on the kid again. “It isn’t to bad up here if you ask me, what do you think, young man?” You question. The kid flaps their arm. “We’re birds! Caw! Caw!” the kid yells. “Mister! I’ve always wanted to fly!” The kid decides to let go of you and flap both of their arms. Almost immediately, the both of you drift away, and the kid is outside of your reach. The kid notices and frantically tries to grab hold of you again, but is too late. The kid shrinks in the distance until you can no longer hear their voice.

You float for hours, then days. If this were a rapture, you were rejected from heaven long ago. The pain of hunger does not match the pain of loneliness. You see new groups of people rising from the ground far in the distance, but have not been able to interact with anyone in the sky. What god is toying with you? You wish for the ground to invite you as the sky did. In your frustration, you shout at the expanse of blue above you. The sky, or whatever being is pulling you towards it, responds. Suddenly, you drop. The rush of wind in your hair is a welcome change from the stagnant and thin air that you became used to. You travels in the air have moved you to a more populated area. The sky in sight takes less of your vision as you fall. Still miles in the sky, you close your eyes.