Cool night wind slid through the windows and Susan Bennington shivered as it brushed her skin. She pulled down the window and locked it before any more breezes would strike back. What time is it? she wondered, eyes fixed on the black sky and glistening stars. Is Chester asleep?

Her wonders brought her upstairs, where there was a little, tight hallway with a room at the very end of it. She turned the knob on the room’s door and slowly let it fly open. Inside sat her son, on a cushioned chair, writing on a piece of paper.

“Hey, Ches,” Susan quietly uttered, hands on her son’s shoulders, “You have to go to bed. What are you doing?”

Chester didn’t take his eyes off of the paper. “Writing.”

“Poetry?” Susan asked, already knowing that he was. “You’re good at that, you know. But you gotta go to bed, please. You have school in the morning. Did you already get ready and brush your teeth and stuff?”

“Yeah.” Chester replied, audibly tired. His eyes felt heavy, but he was still eager to finish writing. He had already been doing it for an hour, and wouldn’t give up until it was done. But coming up with lines was frustrating.

“Bedtime, then.” Susan said as she lifted her young child. She placed him cautiously onto a bed that was overfilled with blankets. Chester, probably unwillingly, crawled under the blankets and laid his head upon a white pillow, before Susan kissed him on his forehead and whispered, “Goodnight, I love you.”

“Love you too.” Chester breathed as the warmth from the blankets settled over him. Susan closed the door and turned off the light, darkening the room in less than a second. She padded downstairs, footsteps getting softer and softer the lower she went.

Minutes later, Chester was asleep, with the crickets sounding through the shut windows.

*******

A fierce pain ran through Chester’s back, disturbing his slumber. He immediately hauled himself up and rubbed his eyes. The pain was unbearable.

He threw off his shirt and his hands quickly went to feel his back. No one knew since he refused to tell anyone, but there were brown bumps on his back that he suspected was a tumor. They hurt more than ever right now, and Chester regretted not telling anyone.

His breaths grew heavier and he shook as tears started to sting his eyes. All he felt was guilt. Maybe he wouldn’t be feeling like this if he just told his parents to take him to the hospital.

Chester attempted to pull himself out of bed and turn on the light, but his shaking limbs took him to the floor, where he curled into a fetal position and cried. The pain amplified by the second, and suddenly, he felt like his back was going to give out.

His vision was cloudy with tears as he glanced at the door, wishing someone would come and save him. Weakness raced through his body as tears dripped onto the floor. His sobs were becoming uncontrollably louder.

A crackling noise came from his back and the pain suddenly eased. Chester’s breaths were now heavier and his heart raced with fear. Unexpectedly, something exploded out of those bumps, making him gasp as he felt whatever it was.

He was now confused and completely clueless. His cries were softened, and the pain was now almost fully gone. Relief flooded over him and he abruptly felt tired again. His arms and legs still shook and his mind spun with so many thoughts and questions. Especially questions asking about what just happened.

Chester forced himself to get up, allowing himself to turn on the light. He slowly ambled to the mirror and almost passed out at the sight of his body. His curly, dark brown hair was a mess, and his face was tinted red with tears staining his cheeks. Although that wasn’t what scared him, it was what grew out of him.

Wings.

Dragonfly wings.

Chester instantly turned away, feeling disgusted with himself. He flicked the light switch, so he couldn’t see anything but black. He never wanted to look at himself again. A scream followed by heart-wrenching cries escapes from his mouth. In what seemed like a second, there were heavy footsteps dashing up the stairs.

Chester never desired for anyone to come up, but the scream gave him away. The door shot open and Susan rushed inside, turning on the light that Chester never wanted on again.

She cursed as she looked at Chester’s body, only making him cry more. Then regretting her words, she hugged him and nervously caressed his hair with one hand. The other gently felt the young wings that were a little wet.

“Stop crying,” Susan hushed in a whisper, also confused. “I'm sorry. And what are these? Dragonfly wings? I’m so confused.”

Chester buried his face into his mother’s chest, calming from his cries. He fidgeted with the collar of her shirt.

Susan stared at the wings, bewildered. Can’t believe my own son is a dragonfly hybrid. How did this even happen? How do I hide these? At least he has baggy shirts.. but will putting a shirt on hurt his wings? I mean, they aren’t that delicate since they’re way bigger than they are on regular dragonflies.

Chester’s breaths fell calm as his mother’s fingers stroked his hair. The pain was completely gone and he now felt exhausted. Susan placed a kiss on his forehead, the same way she did earlier.

“Don’t sleep on your back, alright?” she remarked, guiding him to the bed. “If you do, just make sure you don’t ruin those wings.”

Chester nodded and slid into bed. He laid on his stomach, realizing he didn’t have a shirt on, then thought if maybe he should wear one. Tiredness weakened his body, and he decided not to. I’m surprised she looked at me normally. I’m never going to be looked at the same again. Oh God, Chester gasped, fluttering his wings. Do I control these? I’ve always dreamed of flying. These can hold me, right?

Chester loosened his grip on the pillow and began to search for the right muscle that controlled his wings. His wings trembled as his back began to ache. With enough force, he flapped his wings, feeling himself get lighter. Soon, he was slowly picked up from his bed, but couldn’t go higher with the discomfort that followed him as he tried. He sighed as he dropped back onto his bed. I’ll have to train these so it doesn’t hurt as much. And God, I wish I was normal. I can’t believe I actually have wings. There better be more hybrids out there.