The following story was written by theglitchproject and inpired by both Glitch and krlsflwr for our Design to Write Contest. Their design won first place!

I never thought there was someone else like me. For as long as I'd been alive, I'd never met anyone who looked similar to me, except my parents. Sure, people might have the same gingery hair, and they might wear similar clothes, but this was certainly the first time I'd ever seen someone with wings.

The two of us stared at each other for a while. None of us wanted to break the silence by pointing out the elephant in the room - or rather, in the clearing. Huge gossamer wings attached to our shoulder blades. Pointed elvish ears and long, flowing hair. 

"You're... a faerie?" I slowly asked. The girl in front of me just looked confused. 

"A faerie? Well... yes, and no." 

I didn't register the second part; didn't even stop to consider it. Part of me just wanted to believe that someone else might actually be the same as me. There might actually be a person who I could confide in, who knew what I'd been through. Someone to sympathise with. 

A small smile slowly made its way onto my face, followed shortly by a quiet laugh. A relieved sound. "I didn't think there were... well, more of us." 

The confused look still lingered on the other girl's face; however, I was too excited to register it. She barely had time to speak. 

"I really don't think you understand, I'm not really—"

I should have listened, but again, I was distracted. "So, what's your name?"

She tried to interrupt me again. "Alia, but I'm not—" 

"That's such a pretty name! I'm Charlotte," I rushed out. 

Alia blushed a little, her face going a faint red. "Thanks. So is Charlotte." 

"Aw, thanks." I smiled brightly at her, before hesitantly reaching forward and taking her hand in mine. "Come on. You can fly, can't you?" 

She sighed. "Yes, I can."

I perked up slightly — I hadn't been expecting that, I barely knew how to fly myself. "Alright then, come on."

I felt my wings start to flutter behind my back, sending small gusts of wind to mess up my hair as I slowly rose off the ground. Glancing down after a second, I could still see Alia easily keeping to the same altitude, her hand loose in mine.

I started to lead us upwards, brushing the canopy without breaking through, just in case someone happened to look over the forest and see two winged figures flying over the leaves. We flew along, gliding through the forest until we arrived where I wanted.

It was a small house made from wooden planks, nestled in the top branches of two or three trees. The two of us landed, settling lightly on the dark wood. 

"Come on. This is where I live," I explained, keeping my hand nestled in hers. Through the door was a small area, with a table, chairs and bed hidden away in the corner. Alia smiled as she looked around, though she still appeared preoccupied. 

"Would you like some tea?" I asked, already with the pot in my hand before her reply. She nodded.

"Charlotte," she murmured, as I busied myself with the kettle, filling it from a small basin of rainwater I'd collected. "You really don't remember me?"

I blanched. "Remember you... from where?"

Another soft, quiet sigh. The next words she spoke sounded like they genuinely hurt her to say — like every single word felt like a knife in her side. At least, that's how I felt.

"Charlotte, I'm the reason there are no more faeries."