Dear Robin,

I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to contact you, I didn’t even realize that it had been a year and a half… I guess that time flies by when you’re in a coma. (I’ll tell you in a minute) So first things first. I should have told you, I really shouldn’t have lied to you and kept it from you, it’s the real reason I had to move away. Now before you die of sheer curiosity, let me tell you what I’m talking about: The Gifted program.

It’s this thing run by the government, they’re enhancing us and that why I had to move away on such short notice, because I wasn’t sure whether or not I would be accepted. But I got accepter, I’m in the Alpha group, the animals based off of grace, speed, and agility. My two friends (Amber and Alyssa) and in the Bravo group, they’re really nice. Especially Seth and Zoe, they’re Alpha’s like me, and that’s cool I guess. Everyone here is surprisingly nice, everyone but “Cole” He was mean to me :( and he’s an Alpha also. 

I’m part bird by the way; it’s amazing, and cool, and amazing… Did I already say amazing? I did, oh well. I have wings and I can see without glasses and I can hear really well and I’m really sensitive to touch. And I’m jumpy and on edge, *Sigh* 

From, Rita

(P.S. don’t tell anyone about this email, I’m not supposed to reveal this information)

Rita sat back and reread her email, then she re-reread it, and then she read it again and again, until she decided that she was ready, she hesitantly brought her mouse over the send button. She waited, she waited to make up her mind; she waited to see if the workers would burst in here and take away her laptop. Nothing happened, Rita waited, she didn’t want to get in trouble, but she wanted to tell Robin so badly. 

What do I do?

Rita pondered for several more minutes before coming up with an answer.

I’m going to send it

Rita got ready to click, and then there was a sudden harsh knock at her door.

They found out! No no no no, hide the evidence.

Rita clicked the delete email button, there was a beep and the email was gone, Rita rushed to the door.

“Coming!” She called.

Rita put her hand on the handle, she closed her eyes for a spilt second, took a deep breath, calmed herself and turned the doorknob. She pulled it open, expecting to see guards waiting to punish her, but instead she saw Zoe, or something that resembled Zoe at least, the girl looked almost exactly the same but her skin looked scaly and her eyes were turned to slits with green irises, her large smile was filled with teeth that resembles… fangs. 

“Wow, erm, I mean, come in.”

Zoe walked in and sat on the floor, she fell back so she was laying down, staring up at the ceiling.

“Snake.” She said to Rita.

“Sorry, what?”

“I’m part snake. I’m terrified of snakes.”

“Well you’ve known for a while, why are you surprised.”

“I told the man that I was terrified of snakes and he said ‘I’ll see what I can do’ and now I’m a stupid snake.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

“No duh, this sucks.”

“I’ll bet.” 

The two girls sat in silence.

“Well you look different, very different, and your eyes are one of a kind and-“

“Spare me your empty compliments.” Zoe spat angrily, clearly not coping well with her animal.

“Oh, alright… sorry.”

“What did you get stuck with?”

“Didn’t I tell you?” Rita asked, cocking her head to the side.

“Nope.” Zoe said, popping the ‘P’.

“Oh.”

There was another silence that was broken by an irritated Zoe.

“Well tell me.”

“Oh! Right. I’m part bird.”

Zoe chuckled to herself and muttered something inaudible under her breath, well, it wasn’t exactly inaudible because Rita had crazy good hearing.

“She’s a literal birdbrain.” Zoe whispered to herself.

“She also has good hearing.” Rita snapped, Zoe’s face went tomato red when she realized that she had been heard.

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine.” Rita said, knowing that Zoe hadn’t meant to offend her in the first place.

“So, you’ve got freakish hearing, I now know that and what else? I mean, other than the fact that you look so much older.”

“Well, I have great vision and I’m sensitive to touch, and I’m on edge and I feel out of place and awkward and that’s no fun. And noises are so loud, I got a headache by just walking through the rotunda. And, I don’t look that different do I?”

“Yeah, you’ve aged so much.”

It occurred to Rita that maybe Zoe didn’t know how long she had been in the Coma.

“Zoe, how long do you think have we all been asleep?”

 “Don’t know, a month at most, why?”

“Zoe, it’s been a year and a half.”

Zoe bolted upwards.

“How do you know?”

“The date on my laptop.”

“Woah. That explains so much, I mean, everyone’s taller and looks more mature, I had assumed that the DNA had done that to them. And that also explains why you look so much older.”

Rita laughed at Zoe’s speed talking.

“Well how do I look different?”
So studied her carefully, making a mental list before answering.

“You’re taller, and your face is less round and you look less awkward and you just look better and more mature and the way you stand is different. And also the way you talk, have you heard your voice?”

“Geeze, how did I not notice that?”

“Beats me. Ya know, for someone who claims to have perfect vision, you sure do suck at seeing things.”

Rita gasped in mock surprise.

“I’m shocked.” She said dramatically.

“Deal with it.” Zoe said, putting her hands behind her head.

“I’m going to have to bend over backwards to get you to show emotion aren’t I?”

“Speaking of bending over backwards.” Zoe said standing up, she bent back until her hands reached the floor. Rita felt her mouth fall open in surprise as Zoe’s head went between her legs.

“How did you figure this out?” Rita gasped.

“Not sure, I just kind of found out, I guess I’m as flexible as a snake now.”

“How does someone just ‘figure this out’? Do you attempt to put you head between your legs every day?”

Zoe rolled her eyes. 

“You’ve figure out my secret.” She said sarcastically.

Rita rolled her eyes. 

“Where’s Seth?”

Zoe’s face went red, she looked at the floor.

“Fox boy’s in his room, having a meltdown because his prized hair is now red, and his eyes are green, and it’s all a hilarious mess.”

Rita sighed.

“Which room is his?”

“Room 7. Good luck getting in though; he’s been crying since noon.”

“Crying?”

“No, just moping.”

“Okay.”

Zoe gave a goodbye and walked out the door, closing it after she left. Rita sat on the floor, maybe she could go see Amber and Alyssa; they would want to see her wings. Rita looked at the floor, she would look like she was showing off, and she hated showing off, it made her feel conceited. 

My wings are my secret.

Rita looked on the floor where a small feather of hers lay, it was a light brown splotched with gold in a breathtaking pattern. Do they really look that amazing? Wow, maybe I should show someone, and then they could see how amazing they look. 

No, you sound full of yourself already. Your wings are your gift, don’t go around bragging about them.

Rita hid the feather under her nightstand and looked to make sure that there were no strays left.