Page 24 of Doyle

Bones shifted and grew, scales replaced skin, and soon I stood as my dragon self, feeling the cool breeze rustle through my wings.

With a powerful leap, I took to the sky, the ground falling away beneath me.

The freedom of flight always brought clarity. The wind whipped past, carrying away some of the heaviness in my heart.

I soared higher, the landscape below shrinking until the worries and cares of the world seemed insignificant.

Up here, I could think clearly. Michael's face kept haunting me, though.

His smile, the way his eyes lit up when he laughed, and the vulnerability he showed when he talked about his past.

I wanted to be the one to protect him, to help him rebuild his life.

But I had to respect his choice to reconnect with his father, no matter how much it hurt.

I flew for hours, circling the mountains and valleys until my wings grew tired.

The sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink.

As I descended, the ground came back into focus, and I landed gracefully in the clearing.

The flight had helped, but my heart still ached. Dressing slowly, I gathered my thoughts.

Maybe Michael needed time to realize where he truly belonged. Maybe he would come back. All I could do was wait and hope.

As I drove back to Zane's house, I made a silent promise to myself and to Michael.

I would be there for him, whenever he needed me, but I’d also be patient. I returned home just in time for dinner.

As I stepped through the door, Zane gave me a once-over and sniffed the air, his nose wrinkling slightly.

“Get a shower first before you join us,” he said, his tone half-amused, half-serious.

I nodded and headed upstairs. The shower felt like a small haven, the hot water washing away the grime and stress of the day.

It gave me a moment to collect my thoughts.

The flight had helped, but my mind kept wandering back to Michael.

Once I was clean and dressed, I went back downstairs to join the rest of the family.

Otis and the kids were already seated, their chatter filling the room. I took my place at the table, trying to focus on the present moment.

As I watched Otis interact with the kids, I couldn't help but picture myself and Michael having our own home and family.

Would Michael want kids?

The thought of little ones running around, filling the house with laughter, made me smile.

It would be a chance to leave my own legacy. But I knew I was thinking too far ahead.

Michael was thousands of miles away, probably enjoying a good meal with his dad and sleeping in his old bed.

What if, over time, Michael forgot about me and realized he didn't need me in his life?

The thought nearly sent me into a panic attack. I regretted not telling Michael how special he was to me, but I didn’t want to overwhelm him.

Michael had already been through so much.

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