Beneath the calm demeanor, the quiet, the still movement. Busy brain, motionless body.

"“She doesn'’t talk a whole lot, ever"”
I say: "“Thats true, very true."”
He who hardly knows me says: "“I know, that'’s why I said it"
I say: "“I have a lot going on in my head."”

Giggling a little, I resettle...into the persona, a doll dressed to go out, steady grin, button eyes that look only as far as her thoughts take them. It'’s expected, it's comfortable.
Twinges inside, there lay life...small, feathered, beaked, and winged. The fledgling stirs, cracking the surface.
A streak of blonde in dark brown hair.

"“Will you be online tonight?"” He asks.
"“No that's why I'’m here, we'’ve lost internet at home...I'’m here to work."” I say with a bit of a smile.
"“Well if that'’s the way it'’s going to be...it's not going to be. Work never got in the way of our relationship before."” He said it squinting his eyes.
"“We never had a relationship before."” I say.
"Well..." He says smiling.
"Will you stop interrupting my work?"” A giggle sneaks out with my speech.
"“I'm sorry, were you talking? I believe we'’re done."” He moves his lips, then turns his head.

Resettle, focus within...
Peck...peck...movement of wings, mimicking flight. Beak protruding, a hole filtering light.
The sweater I'm wearing belonged to somebody's grandma. I'’d like to be a writer. I think my parents are fun to be around. I avoid hanging out in public places, for quiet nights at home. My four closest relationships, have been with married couples. I want to do something amazing for the kingdom. I talk to adults in ways, these boys would never get. I cry when I think about disobeying God. And I still am afraid of the dark sometimes.

"“You and I will make beautiful music together."” He says.
I nod. He smiles.

The shell inside shatters, I hear it in my ears...a gust of breath, warm and dry, removes the moisture from soft feathers. The breath is a whisper. "Fly. Take flight. Ride the wind."”
I don"’t like it here. Your conversation is unmoving...and I can'’t understand why I feel bound by it. Why I feel smaller than you. I like to read books, then I like to talk about them. I like to feel like I'm being listened to, and then return the favor. I like to be remembered. I have a bird inside, where my heart is. The beat of its wings is the rhythm pumping my blood. But you'll never know. I haven't shown.