Broken Butterflies by Shadow Stephens Read Free Book Online Page B

knuckles saying, “About time you came to see me.”
    “Do you have a sec?” Ilisha asked as another one of her high school classmates came to say hi.
    “Step into my office,” he said, escorting her to a tiny office behind the nursing station. “What’s up, chicka,” he asked, rolling a chair over to her.
    “I’m thinking of moving back and wondered how hard it would be to get on here.”
    “Never thought I’d see the day,” he said, smiling.
    “Shut up,” Ilisha said playfully.
    “You’re more than qualified. If you want a job, I can get you on.”
    “Really? That easy?”
    “This isn’t a huge hospital chain. You’ll need to fill out a mountain of paperwork though.”
    “I expected that. Can I do it now?”
    “Absolutely.” He flipped through papers and dividers. “You’re making me show my disorganization.” Finding what he was looking for he handed her a long application and contract. “When do you think you can start?”
    “Well, I have to move first.”
    “If I give you a couple weeks, will that work?”
    ‘Yeah, perfect. I can’t believe it’s this easy to get a job.”
    “We went to college together, and I know the hospital you work at in Columbus is more specialized and busy. You’re more than qualified.”
    Ilisha filled out all the paperwork and handed it back to Rich. “So I’ll see ya in a couple weeks,” he said, pointing at her as he briskly walked to greet an ambulance.
    Smiling, she twirled her keys in her hand, strolling to the parking lot. Her mind felt at ease.
    Bram leaned against the passenger door.
    “Hey,” Ilisha said, hugging him.
    “Wanna go somewhere?” he asked.
    “Yeah.”
    Driving through town, Ilisha followed his instructions and followed the small rut filled roads leading into the forest.
    The thick trees blocked the sun making the road dark. Sporadic bursts of sun flashed across the windshield. The smell of pine wafted through the car, and Bram inhaled deeply.
    “I suppose you already know I applied at the hospital.”
    “Of course.”
    “Do you think I’m making the right decision?”
    “I think you’ll need to be here.” Ilisha moved to question him on that, but Bram pointed to the side of the road saying, “Pull off here.”
    Hiking through thick forest, Ilisha took hold of anything to help her keep balance.
    “Look straight ahead at what will be coming, instead of looking down,” Bram suggested.
    “I’ll trip.”
    “No you won’t, trust me. Look right in my eyes.”
    Bram walked backwards, never missing a beat, while Ilisha tried to concentrate on his eyes. Every time she looked down, he pointed at his eyes with two fingers. The forest opened to a clearing filled with tiny yellow flowers scattered across the ground.
    “Wow.” She looked at the illuminated butterflies resting atop the flowers. “There’re thousands of them.”
    Bram took her hand and led her into the middle. As they approached, the butterflies stopped moving, but resumed again once they passed.
    “Why are they here?”
    “This is a meeting place.” Bram sat on the damp earth, and she followed.
    As she looked closer some had torn or wilted wings. “Why are they deformed?”
    “They’re the fallen angels.”
    “Do you look like this?”
    Bram took off his clothes and transformed into a purple, green, and blue butterfly. He landed on her hand. The soft light from his wings illuminated her palm in waves of color. Pulling her hand closer she looked at him. The tips of his wings were warped like someone had melted them. He wasn’t quite as bright and colorful as his un-fallen counterparts on the ground. She ran her index finger across him. Soft as velvet, his wings shuddered at her touch. His tiny butterfly form was iridescent, but solid at the same time. The light in his wings pulsed through tiny clear veins like blood. The butterfly disappeared and a full size Bram reappeared, naked.
    “You’re beautiful,” Ilisha said.
    “Broken, but still