“One day when you come of age, I want you to remember moments like this that made you smile. Those wings will blossom soon enough.” My mother’s words rang out in my head as I stared at myself in the mirror. I just couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I swayed back and forth, letting my arms droop and swing with the lazy motion as my tulip petal dress flared with each spin. The scent of the new petals wafted around me as I admired their pinkish hue. My hair was combed neatly and fell across my shoulders, I had even braided some ribbon into it for more color. All things I love, things that make me happy. I looked over my face again, the lack of wings in my silhouette mocked me.

How could a task as obtuse as “be happy” be enough to get me my wings?

“Tilly!!” I heard my friend call from outside, I agreed to get breakfast with her.

I rushed to the door, grabbing my satchel on the way, “Coming!”

Swinging open the door I was greeted with her smiling face, and I nearly cringed at the site of her, she had sprung wings overnight.

“Surprise!” She shouted through her grin, then she twirled, “Aren’t they amazing?”

“But.. but how?” I mustered.

She turned back to me, “I don’t know! But I feel like I slept really well so maybe I just love sleeping?”

I snorted, “Yea I’m surprised you’re here actually, thought I’d have to wake you up so we wouldn’t miss our date.”

She just shrugged and smiled, “Still no luck?”

My gaze turned away from her, I felt her arms wrap around mine and pull me away into the town, her wings giving us a breeze as they fluttered in excitement, “Don’t worry, I’m gonna show you the best time ever, then they’ll have to come out!”

Without hesitation I felt her lift me off the ground, her wings carrying us both like she was a pro flier. They shimmered in the morning sun, and seemed to make her glow when she talked. I lost track of our conversations throughout the day, I just couldn’t take my eyes off her. It was like she was a new person, same, but also different.

She ordered for both of us for breakfast with a determined grin on her face, “Girl trust me, I know how much you like sweets, this place has the best ones and I just ordered their headliners for you.”

The smell of the fresh pastries filled the area, it had a delicate scent of sweetness to them that I couldn’t deny made my mouth water. Not long after the waiter fluttered over with plates upon plates of all different kinds of food. Filled croissants, struddles, muffins, jams, my head was spinning from the options. But before I could reach for anything I was handed a particularly fluffy looking chocolate croissant.

“This one!” She said eying me. “It’s your fav, you’re welcome.”

“You’re really going all out here.” I felt it crackle in my hand as I took it from her, a smile creeping on my face. The moment I bit into it felt like heaven, it flaked into buttery bliss with a wave of sweetness and bitter chocolate to boot. I held a hand to my face, “Oh my gosh..”

She nodded excitedly at me, “Right?!” I saw her gaze shift an inch to the side, still no wings, and then back to me. “I’m surprised you haven’t had the time to go here yet, it’s like your thing.”

I laughed, trying not to rain crumbs around me as I dug in, “Cause I was waiting to go with you obviously.”

Her wings fluttered, if they kept doing that she’d probably float right out of her seat. I just smiled. She kept handing me more and more things to try like there’d be some magic pastry to make my wings appear, but no matter how many delicacies she handed me they didn’t show.

By the end of our meal we spent hours just talking, catching up after who knows how long. Despite our time apart, we both seem happy, and that notion continues to plague the back of my mind. Eventually we drifted our way back to my hollow, saying our goodbyes as slowly as possible.

She sighed, “Well, hey, try not to overthink it. I mean I don’t even know why this happened,” she said motioning to her wings, “I think it just kinda does, especially when you’re not thinking about it.”

I laughed, “Yea we know how good I am at doing that.”

She put her hands on her hips, “I mean it! Just chill, you look like you had fun today so until those wings pop out I guess I’m just gonna have to keep bugging you.”

“Good! Don’t you dare be a stranger.”

She turned away with a hop in her step, readying herself for take off, “Like you could get rid of me!”

I waved her off as she ascended into the air, shutting the door softly once she was a glittering spec in the distance. I sighed, making my way to my bed before flopping into it, the cushions threatening to swallow me whole with my exhaustion. I missed times like this, getting to see her. We always manage to have fun in the everyday mundane.

I tried to roll over before feeling a sharp prick in my back, “Ow! What the-“

My eyes widened, I didn’t dare move. Slowly I placed my hands on the bed, propping myself up. Then made a mad dash to my mirror before letting out a shriek.

Resplendent and shimmering, a pair of pinkish purple wings extended from my back. I felt a tear roll down my cheek, and then a smile sneaked along my face. I raced back to the door and flung it open, running outside as far as I could, feeling the breeze surround my new wings before finally I was airborn.

I had to go tell her the good news.