Icarus' Flight

..........and that is what this story is about ... wings, the yearning to fly and escape those things one feels are holding our soul captive.

It was in a time before dreams were labeled impossible and magic flowed through the air on the wings of wishes.

Daedalus was an inventor, he took pride in the things he created. But his true pride lie with his child Icarus. Such a loving child, with a need to reach beyond the human limitations and soar toward the stars of hope.

Icarus dreamed of flight, to break away from the earth's pull and float with the breeze. But the vision of being closer to the sun, that was the longing that was ached with. The need to know such a being as the sun was almost more than Icarus could hold in one small heart. And the yearning for such drove Icarus to reach beyond the daily toils and look to the magic of wishes.

Daedalus, could see his child's need radiating from the fail body that held her soul to this earthly plane. The pain that burned so plainly there was more than the father could bear for his child. And in an act of unselfish love he laid aside all other tasks to fulfill this need that fed off of his child. Daelalus envisioned wings.... wings such has had never been seen before..... and he with love and patience began the task of making his vision a reality.

For as much as Icarus wished to soar, Daedalus wanted his child to have her hearts desire.

And the day dawned when at last the wings were done. Daedalus called his only child to him and unveiled that which he had toiled for so long. The wings; in Icarus's eyes they reflected back at the maker. They were beautiful to behold, made of wax to be light and sturdy. And child size if such a thing were so, as wings for a child. The magnificant gifts were put upon Icarus's back and joy ran though the tiny body that stood so proudly there. Daedalus's eyes misted from the site of his child so austure and proud with the promise of a wish on her back. And for a moment the earth stood still as father and child breathed in the magic of the day.

Then with no word needed; for the love and gratitued showed plainly on Icarus's face, she stepped off into the air.

Icarus plummeted down toward the rocks below. Her father stood still questioning her fate. The answer came quickly, his heart rose with the sight of his child soaring back over the edge and beyond.

At that moment Icarus felt she had no need of the wings her heart was so light. She had the dream, it had become her reality in an instant. But already her true goal beaconed her. And with no further thought she flew to meet her destiny

With no regret for that which she was leaving behind. It was not that she no longer needed such things. Just that she could only see that which she felt she had lived for finally within her grasp.

The sun.... pulling her to it's warmth and light. At last to be with her heart's passion, to know peace all this pulled Icarus higher still.

Her father a tiny figure below could only watch as the love of his life passed beyound his sight. He could no longer see her, but he could feel the joy in her heart. And for him, it was enough.

Icarus continued to fly upward to become one with her desire. The heat seared her, melting her wings but fanning her desire.

There was no marking of the time when Icarus left her body. No way to know when the metamorphisis occured. She simply went from girl to light, no more. The pull of her wish was enough to make reality release her.

And she was one with the sun. Her father watched as a flash of brightness took that which he had loved and cherished. And the the love and loss he felt cut through his very being severing him, never to be whole again. He had gave his heart so that the one he loved could feel true happiness, to be complete.

And with the act sealed his fate as shattered.