“Read it again mommy, please?”

Cassandra laughed as her son reached over to reset the book to its starting position.

“You not really leaving me any room for negotiation are you?” She teased playfully.

Zachary grinned triumphantly as he stared at his mother. 

“Nope. Just one more time and I’ll sleep ok?”

“Deal baby.” Cassandra smiled and kissed her son's forehead before reading the book again.

“Little John sat alone in class. No one ever wanted to play with him. The other kids teased or ignored him so often that he thought it would be better to stay away.” She began. “It was easier for John to stay to himself, his imagination being all that he needed. He was different from the others but that was no excuse for the bullying he thought.”

“Nuh-Uh no excuse!” Zachary exclaimed passionately.

“Exactly baby. Just because you are different doesn't mean others have the right to make you feel bad.”

Zachary pouted. “I wish everyone would be nice to each other.”

Cassandra had to work to keep the smile on her face. Sometimes he was wise beyond his years. “So do I baby...so do I...Let’s continue.”

“Yes please!” Zachary chirped.

“One day little John looked up into the sky and decided he didn’t want to be with the bullies anymore. He began to practice flying. Every day he would run and jump and reach high above his head. The other kids laughed and called him names but he didn’t let them bring him down, little John has a dream to fulfill.”

“Yes…” Zachary whispered as his bright eyes washed over the pages.

“One day as the students began to mock little John something amazing happened. Little John flew!”

Zachary bounced with excitement and clapped his hands. “I knew he could!”

Cassandra chuckled as she continued.

“Little John soared high above the clouds while everyone watched in awe. He never gave up onhis dreams no matter what others said. That day little John was free from everything that brought him down. He would never be sad again!”

Zachary yawned and snuggled up next to his mother. 

“Do you think I can learn to fly?” He asked softly.

“Yes baby, One day you will fly higher than anyone else. I will be so proud of you.” He leaned down and kissed his forehead again. “You can do anything you put your heart to.”

Zachary smiled and within seconds he was fast asleep. Cassandra closed the book and placed it beside his bed before standing and shutting off his light. 

“Sweet dreams baby. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She said softly as she closed the door.

Zachary woke with a start as a cold breeze fluttered into the room. It was dark and chilly which was odd for him. The window to his room was open, which was odd as well. He moved the sheets off of his body and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He needed to close that window. Zachary pushed himself from the bed and took a step. He felt lighter than usual, was he just imagining it? He took another step and smiled.

“No way.” He mumbled as he tested his weight.

Zachary jumped and floated down to the floor with nearly no sound at all. He jumped again towards the window and found that he could float if he focused on it. He could hardly contain his excitement as he practiced floating back and forth from the window to the bed. The room was so dark it was hard to really see and he found himself stumbling into the bed a few times.

“I need space.” He declared as he eyed the window.

His thoughts roamed back to the book his mother read to him and henodded with determination. “She said I can do whatever I want.” He muttered before jumping towards the window. One...two...three!

Zachary lept from the window and began to fall. He was falling faster than he ever did before! His eyes widen as the ground approached quickly. He was scared, his eyes closing tight as he tried to block his face. A gust of wind shook his clothes but he never felt the ground. He opened his eyes slowly and saw he was floating!

“I did it!” He screamed as he took off into the sky. He laughed and spun and twirled all through the clouds above. The sky was so peaceful and beautiful, a feeling of pure happiness filled his heart as he explored the skies. It was just like his book he thought. Everything was so perfect!

Zachary spent quite a bit of time flying around before he decided to head back to his bed. As he flew down towards the opened window he realized he could hear someone crying. It was his mother!

“Oh no! She must think I ran away!” He shouted. “I’m coming mommy I’m sorry!” Zachary shouted as he sped towards the open window. When he reached the window he froze with confusion.

Inside his mom was leaning over the bed weeping heavily into the sheets. The lights were on and doctors scurried around the room in a panic. Did he cause that much trouble just by flying? He didn’t mean to.

Zachary stepped into the window and called out to his mother. 

“Mommy I’m back! I’m sorry I didn’t mean to worry you…” 

She didn’t turn to face him. She only continued to weep into the sheets. Was she so angry that she didn’t want to talk to him now? A doctor rushed by him nearly knocking him over. What was everyone so upsetabout? He was back! Zachary walked to his mother and put a hand on her shoulder. 

“Mommy I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad, look I learned to fly just like the book! Just like you said...I...Could…” Zachary grew quiet as he saw himself in the bed.

He looked as if he were still asleep. How could that be if he were standing right there? His eyes moved to his mother as he began to cry too.

“Mommy?”

“Fear not little Zachary…”

The voice of a man startled him and he spun to face the speaker. A man in white robes stood at the open window, a warm smile stretched across his face.

“I know it seems odd, and I understand it can be scary but everything will be alright. It was your time to move on.”

“What?” Zachary squeezed his mother's shoulder as he wept with her. “I don’t want to.”

“I know my child but fear not. Everything will be alright. You will know no pain now, everything will be fun and relaxing. You will never have to worry or fear anything again. Your mother will be fine, she just needs a bit of time to heal. I promise everything will get better.”

“But…” Zachary cried harder now, unable to grasp the situation.

“No more hospital stays, no more pain and surgeries, no more medicine. You are free Zachary, and she will be too. I promise you will be able to watch over her, you’ll never really be apart. You will only be in a better place is all.”

Zachary stared at the man as he spoke, sniffling as his crying began to slow. He felt as if he could trust the man. Despite how hard it was to imagine being away from his mom he felt this man was telling the truth. After a few moments, he turned tohis mom and hugged her tight.

“I have to go now mommy, but you will be ok without me alright? I will always be watching you so don’t worry. I learned to fly mommy...just like you said I could.”

Zachary squeezed his mom as she cried and kissed her cheek. “Bye-bye, Mommy. I love you.”

He turned away from her and walked to the man as he reached out to him.

“Come now Zachary, let's go home.”

Zachary smiled at the man and wiped his tears before taking his hand. Together they flew from the bedroom and high above the clouds in the sky. A gentle breeze filled the room and Cassandra looked up from the bed towards the open window. She squeezed her son's lifeless hand and smiled weakly.

“Oh baby...you learned to fly...I’ll miss you so much...I love you…”