>"...why do you even stick around me?" I ask Anna, head hanging low. I look down at my preened feathers, coated in blood.
>Anna slides next to me, standing beside me on the school roof. She says nothing.
>A heat flares up in me. I jump to my feet.
>"I'm a fuck-up! I snap at you over almost nothing! I-I... what do you want from me?" my voice creaks as I yell
>"...what do I want from you?" I say, leaning back against the concrete, my wings still stinging from where I'd pulled feathers from. I close my eyes and look up, fully expecting Anna to simply leave. She doesn't.
>"I want to see you be happy. I want you to not have to force whatever this is." I look over to Anna who's looking at me in worry.
>"...why?" I plead
>She pauses a moment "I can see how passionate you are, how much you love music. How much you care about everyone around you even if it hurts you."
>She gently lays a hand on my shoulder. "And I want you to be able to do that and be happy because I know what it's like to be alone."
>I hang my head, Anna slowly slides her hand along my back. She intends to pull me into a hug. I hesitate a moment, not wanting to get blood and sweat all over her. I don't have it in me to fight her off.
>She pulls me into an embrace. I hear her whisper
>"All that matters is him."
>I break, big wet tears dropping down onto her shirt. I lean into her as she supports my weight.
>I let it out, slowly losing the strength in my legs and end up having to sit down, Anna joining me on the ground. I sniffle and wipe my face before continuing.
>"I don't even know who I am anymore." Self hatred rearing it's head again. I look to Anna for answers. She starts.
>"I can only tell you what I see. I see Fang, the punk rock Non-Binary rock star who loves music so much they can't help themselves. The Fang who wants to be liked but can't help but push others away."
>I hang my head at this. I take a deep breath and consider her words.
cont. one more