Be Warned

Beth had a huge smile on her face as she approached her, and to Michelle, her sister looked the happiest she'd seen her in a long, long time. She couldn't remember the last time Beth had looked this happy. Not only was her smile the biggest Michelle had ever seen it, she was practically glowing. There was this aura of happiness around her that seemed hopelessly infectious and made her smile too.

"Hey Bethie!" Michelle smiled, hugging her sister before the three of them sat down. "So, this must be the Chris I've been hearing so much about." She smiled toward the man sitting beside her sister.
"This is him!" Beth confirmed excitedly. "Chris, this is my sister Michelle."
"Nice to meet you Chris." Michelle extended her hand across the table. "I've heard a lot about you."
"You too Michelle. I wish I could say the same." Chris shook Michelle's hand and they both turned to look at Beth.
"What?" She asked, blushing a little.
"Why hasn't he heard about me?" Michelle asked, a hint of playfulness in her serious tone.
"I don't know." Beth shrugged. "I guess I never thought to mention you. But he knows about you now." She nudged Chris, who smiled.

Michelle waited until Beth had gone before she leaned closer to Chris.
"Now," she said, her voice growing serious. "I like you, but you have no idea how upset she's been, how much heartache she's been through, how she's felt about herself. I'm warning you, right now, if you do anything, at all, to hurt her, you will have me to deal with."
Chris gulped and Michelle leaned back in her chair, a satisfied smile forming on her lips. "Good." She said, her tone more relaxed. "I'm glad we understand each other."

"I warned him." Michelle whispered to her sister through gritted teeth in an attempt to hide their conversation from Chris.
Beth laughed nervously, her face colouring."Michelle! I told you, you don't have to do that."
"No, I didn't have to. But you're my baby sister Bethie. If her hurts you, I swear..."
Beth rested a hand on her sister's arm, demanding her attention. "It's ok Mich." She said, looking at over at Chris, who was nervously swaying from side to side a little way away as he waited for them. "Look at him. I think he gets it."

Spread Your Wings... & Fly

"Are you sure about this?" She asked, turning to look back at her mother.
"Yes, Katie, I'm sure." Her mother lied. The truth was, she wasn't so sure about it herself. But you couldn't hold onto them forever. At some point, there came a time when you simply couldn't for another moment. When they'd suffocate if you did. There came a time in every mother's life when you had no choice but to set them free.

Katie hesitated on the edge of the path, glancing to the building across the street, then to her mother, and back again. She wasn't so sure about this. Wasn't quite sure that she was ready. Being with her mother was so safe. That was where she belonged and she doubted whether or not she was ready. But somewhere inside, a part of her new it was inevitable. Only a matter of time until it happened. Why put it off? But still, it didn't make it any easier. Not one bit. It was still just as scary as the first day of primary school had been, maybe more.

Katie relented, turning to her mother and falling into her open arms. "I don't know if I can do this Mum." She admitted, her voice muffled.
Gently, her mother stroke her hair. "You can." She said. "I know you can Katie."
Katie looked up at her. "You think so?"
Katie's mother shook her head. "I know so." She said. "It can be scary sometimes, I know. All new things are. But, you've just got to grit your teeth and do it."
Katie was still hesitant, but stayed silent, listening as her mother went on.
"Just because you're starting your own life doesn't mean that I won't be here. I'm not going anywhere just because you're 20, finished high school, moving out and getting a job. But, Katie it's because you are a this stage in your life that you've got to get your own life, move on, move out, move up. Spread your wings... Fly."
"I guess." Katie whispered, shrugging her shoulders.
"You can't just be Mummy's little girl anymore Katie. You always will be to me, but you've got to get another title now. I night have one to start with."
"Yeah?" Katie asked, looking up at her.
"Butterfly." Her mother said simply. "Because you're going to spread your wings, and you're going to fly."