preface-

Ever since the beginning of mankind, the idea of flying has been greatly romanticized. Landlocked humans wished for a way to escape their daily trials. They saw the birds soar above them and grew envious: every time the birds encountered a problem, they merely lifted their wings and away they flew. As man developed, the bird became a symbol of freedom. Gliding through open air was everyone's dream.

Then fate, in a twist of irony, had man keep the beautiful, winged creatures in cages. Literally behind bars, they could do nothing but beat their wings and sing painful songs of longing for what they had lost. Man became diverted to the means of technology and soon had their own wings, metal like the bars behind which they had trapped their models. They flew for sport until they flew for war, and wings of freedom freed souls with bullets and bombs.

On a smaller scale, man built swings as children's playthings. Limbs were caught in chains, heads were smashed against metal, and feet flew through the air only to crumple on the ground while the swing still swung, impeccably and irresistibly triumphant, in arcs sweeping lower and lower in the air. Laughter was caught in throats and lives were cut short, like a gunshot striking a bird midflight. The swings grew safer, but the horrific memories that they had caused were still wrought across minds for ages to come.

Yet even now, we yearn to fly. For us, it does not lead to but away from catastrophe. The fact is that flying is fucking terrifying if you're not born doing it. You don't have much control of where you're going on a windy day, and, if you're afraid of heights, you're out of luck. Flying gives the new, frightening perspective of how small and fragile everything really is. We assume that flying gives us control, but it is, ultimately, falling with wings. Flying depends on the success of wings, and therefore it is not the ability to fly that we want. It is the safety net under our weary limbs. It is the knowledge that we will be protected. It is not being afraid to do what you want, because you know you will be okay. It is what brings the true happily-ever-after to an ending.

It is courage.