Day 1
Today, I woke up with a scale. It was growing on my hand like I was a fish or an iguana. I picked it off, but it hurt and bled. I realized I had grown it overnight.
Day 2
It was back today, along with another one. I showed my dad, but he just shook his head and turned away. My mother left when I was young, so I have no one else. I wrapped my hand in a bandage before I went to school.
Day 7
All week, the scales continued to grow. They climbed my arm, and appeared on my feet and back. They started to tease me at school, so I stayed home starting Wednesday. My dad didn’t notice.
Day 12
Today was my sixteenth birthday. My dad brought a cake up to my room, knocking softly on the door. “Come in,” I whispered. I sounded like a snake.
“Jen?” he came in and turned to find me. “Happy birthday, honey,” he smiled sadly when he saw me.
Not prompting me to come out, my dad sat in the corner with me, setting the cake on the floor in front of us. He said nothing for a moment and I watched him closely.
“I’m sorry,” he finally started. “Love kept me blind, and I should have told you before now.” I drew back as he placed a hand on my shoulder. “Your mother is a dragon.”
Day 15
Today I...