Thinking of Butterflies

Pulsing green light surrounded him inside the angular chrysalis. Even when he closed his eyes, he could still see it, sun-bright upon his retinas. It felt like it was trying to burn straight through him.

He had volunteered and now the chrysalis was unmaking him and remaking him, pulling him apart and stitching him together. There were nights when he wondered if there would be anything left of the old him when he was done. He wondered if he would be able to tell.

When the green shone so bright he thought he could see it with his bones, he thought of butterflies and wondered if they thought about when they were caterpillars or if they thought of themselves as newborn things.

His eyes flickered open for a moment and he saw new colours he’d never imagined before.

He would be ready soon. Ready to be born.

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Word Count: 147

This is for Flash Fiction for the Aspiring Writer. Thanks to Priceless Joy for running the challenge and Jade Wong for providing the prompt photo!