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I love them... all shapes and colors and have collected pictures and collectibles of them all of my life. 

Butterflies are free to fly. I spent most of my life as the cocoon, afraid of the world I had emerged in. Too young to choose properly. I wed an abusive man at 17 and lived in his shadow. 

Butterflies symbolize freedom and beauty,  emerging after struggle. After many long years (20) of struggle and self doubt,)] I finally developed wings and fled to freedom. 

Through the decades following my escape I learned how to crawl and eventually fly. I rose tentatively into an unfamiliar world of jobs and single motherhood and even college. My wings grew stronger and my sense of self slowly emerged. 

I have friends as close as family who helped me each frightening step of my emerging.  One is Sharon. She was the first to take me in and show me my strengths and help me find a place to rent and a job. I am indebted. We help each other. Recently she surprised me with the gift of a metal butterfly. She, too, is starting life again, leaving a long term relationship and a new job. Jeff and I are helping her win her battle to gain custody of one of her grandchildren living in Georgia. 

This freewrite is dedicated to her, her grandchild and her new wings.

*photo property of author*

Today's prompt is [metal butterfly](https://steemit.com/partiko/@mariannewest/day-620-freewrite-prompt-metal-butterfly-r8y3eaca). 

Check out @mariannewest daily prompts and join in with @freewritehouse for opportunities to win Steem Basic Income weekly!

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