He lost his wings somewhere along the way.

They fell off feather by feather as the people around him helped him sink. They yelled for his sins and increased the need for them in the first place in doing so. I followed the trail they left behind and collected them as I went.

They left a boy with ragged scars on his back where they tore off his wings. And I gave him his feathers and a kiss with each one. He will never be the same as he was in the beginning, but in my opinion, he will be better. Stronger. Wiser. Smarter.

Regardless of wings, this boy is my angel.