Unveil

There weren't always dragons in the Valley. Some live in the Big Apple because it was a bit easier to be incognito. However, not all dragons can handle the area’s congestion. My family and I used to live there before heading West. There was nothing wrong flying in the smog or clouds in the sky. We just needed to be careful of the many planes going in and out of NYC, that’s an example of congestion, I say. My mom got a huge opportunity to work in Silicon Valley as the Director of Nurses at Good Samaritan Hospital. How ironic, a dragon lady, working at Good Samaritan! We, dragon people, aren’t always good; sometimes, we need to show our scales. In secret, of course! Flying on a clear night is like the greatest freedom in the sky. It’s just the dragon, the air, and the stars. The one thing that kept my family and I good was my older sister, who got a full ride to Parsons and decided to stay there. She and I had great adventures together, but now, she has to live her own life. I still wish she was here.

My older sister can help me concentrate again, but I have no way of contacting her since her high school graduation. Damn, how come she can control the urge when I cannot?! Oh no, I am feeling so hot right now! I am sweating so bad in my seat! I see it dripping from my dark hair. I need to check my mood necklace. It’s close to being black! I do not want to unleash my fire now! Focus on my teacher’s lesson. Think of something nice and happy, Kaylee. You can do it! Just ten more minutes before the class ends.

“For homework,” says my English teacher, “you need to write a paragraph to each poem we read today. I also have your test grades from last week. If there are any questions, please let me know.”

The English teacher walks up to my seat and gives me back my test. He shows concern and looks at me. Great, I got another C- on my test. My classmates are looking at me again; some even giggled. Please control yourself, girl.

Finally, the English teacher dismisses the class. I wait for everyone to get out of the classroom. I breathe slowly and calmly while I reduce the amount of smoke coming out of my nose. I need to play cool. As I gradually get up from my seat, I see my necklace slowly turning back to blue. That’s a good sign. I am feeling a little better.

“Hey,” says a know-it-all classmate standing outside the classroom, “do you want some advice? Drop out now! You’ll never get into high school!”

After the girl leaves to rejoin her posse, I start walking out of the classroom. I wish I said, “Suck it,” to her. As I pass by her again, the rude student says to her friends with an attitude, “What a pathetic loser. She should withdraw and become a prostitute.”

“That’s your last straw, bitch!” I yell at her. “You shall burn!”

While my cry prolongs and turns into a roar, all of the school’s windows shatter; the necklace instantly turns black. There’s no turning back now! My body is overheating and producing green-tan scales from my skin. Fire surrounds me as my eyes turn bright hazel as I open my mouth and unleash my fire breath onto the rude classmate. Everybody, including her friends, ran and screamed in horror as they witnessed a student getting incinerated. Unfortunately, my uncontrollable urge made me morph into my dragon form… again. Sometimes, I just need to do bad to feel good for myself. It’s wrong yet right for me.