"I don't understand why you keep those things!" Monica scowled, "there are better uses for a fish tank. Even better use for the space!"

"They're cocooning," Katrina said softly.

She hardly spoke. Spent most of her time quietly choosing plants for her caterpillar collection. She walked away from the tank, satisfied for the moment, knowing that Monica's disapproval was meaningless. Despite her objections, Monica would never destroy anything that belonged to Katrina.

"We are all caterpillars," Katrina said.

Monica didn't pretend to understand her sister's statement, nor anything about her sister, for that matter. When their mother came to her six months before to ask her to take her sister in, all her mother said was that Katrina had been hurt. By whom, Monica was not told. Katrina had spent four months in an asylum, then released into Monica's care. She wasn't comfortable not knowing what had happened, but that was obviously between Katrina, her doctors and God.

Katrina had not been a quiet, withdrawn child. She had graduated at the top of her class; her valedictory was filled with fire and hope for a grand future. Katrina was trapped in a shell for sure, cocooned like her caterpillar friends.

As the days passed, the plants in the tank began to wither. Katrina had walked away from the tank when all the caterpillars had finished their cocoons, and had not given it another thought. Monica was not pleased with the sight, but left her sister's treasure alone.

Katrina, it seemed, was changing. She began to spend long periods of time away from the house, doing what, Monica could only speculate. Some shopping, as she came home with parcels from time to time.

"Katrina, dear," Monica asked quietly, "where have you been going?"

"Out," Katrina replied softly.

Monica sighed, "I know dear, but where?"

"Oh, just to the mall, and through the park," Katrina said quietly, "I'm learning."

"Learning what, sweetheart?" Monica said.

"What it's like to be a butterfly," Katrina replied.

More time passed. Katrina was never home anymore. All the plants in the caterpillar tank were brown. Monica got fed up with it, and got a plastic shopping bag, and began to thrown the brown vegetation away. Katrina walked in.

"Monica, please!" she cried, speaking louder than she had in months.

"This is filthy and disgusting," Monica replied, "It was okay when you were paying attention to it."

Monica continued to empty the tank, inspite of Katrina's protests. Until Katrina just broke down and cried.

"My butterflies," she sobbed, "you're going to kill them! And me."

Monica stopped. "Honey, I'm not going to kill you!"

"My butterflies," Katrina continued to cry.

"Look, I haven't touched any of your cocoons," Monica said, "see?"

Katrina suddenly stopped crying, and picked up a small curio bowl from a shelf. She walked over to her tank, and gently chose three cocoons, and transfered them from the tank into the bowl.

"Do what you like with the rest," she said bitterly, "these are the special ones."

Katrina carried her small treasures up to her room, and placed the bowl on the window sill. Then shut and locked her door, locking out Monica and the rest of the world.

Three days. No movement or sound from behind Katrina's locked door. Monica pleaded through the door for Katrina to come out, to no avail. Finally, Monica called the asylum where Katrina had been, and they instructed her to call the fire department and an ambulance, and they'd be oh so glad to accept her back.

The fire fighters quickly and easily broke down the door with their axes. Monica pushed her way into the room ahead of the paramedics.

"Katrina!" she said as she rushed into the room. The empty room.

The window was open, and the curtain fluttered in the breeze. The curio bowl said in the center of the sill, with three broken cocoons in it. Monica ran to the window, and looked out to see four butterflies hovering right outside, right out of reach. Three small perfect monarchs and a beautiful large blue one.

"Katrina," Monica said quietly, as she watched the butterflies fly away.