I counted my days, waiting for my turn, while the days passed through me. I stood in a cold shadow. Something within me said, “Go.” Something else said, “Stay.” Both spoke in my voice. Both were afraid of losing me. I swallowed the cold. My legs trembled. I took a step before I knew which voice I had answered. In the pink mist, I saw myself; I was still standing down there, while up here, with every beat of my wings, I drifted further from myself.