Flight

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Their marriage had been falling apart for years.

She knew it.

They left the Butterfly exhibit at the Natural History Museum.

"Perhaps it’s no one fault, people change, move on" he said.

His glibness struck a blow.

Then she noticed it,

the rare black butterfly attached to the arm of her coat.

Its dark wings stood upright, disappearing

into a fold of fabric

It clung to her.

She hoped it was resting, needing

to regain strength.

But she knew it would die, unable

to survive the winter night.

So they walked, watching its stillness

for what seemed like an eternity.



© Karen Karpowich

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