Ripped Away My Wings

"Ms. Ryder? Are you listening?" Mr. Henry, my grandfather looked over the top of his reading glasses.

That was me. I, Jasmine, the only princess of Sharra was pretending my last name was Ryder and was sitting in history class, daydreaming.

Something I found myself doing a lot lately.

"Uh, sorry. What was the question?" As I spoke, I scrunched down in my chair.

Several students snickered.

Drake called me a freak under his breath.

My blood boiled, but I pushed it down.

A quick glance at the clock above the door confirmed history class would be over two minutes.

Two horrendously long minutes.

"Was the Civil War necessary to abolish slavery?" Mr. Henry came around his desk, removing his reading glasses and tucking them into the pocket of his tan sweater.

I would never tell him this, but the students at school called him Mr. Rogers. The description fit.

He always wore a sweater over a button down shirt and he always wore slacks with the same pair of loafers.

Personally, I though