Chapter 1 CHAPTER 1 The firefly hovered over the back of my hand, then landed--slowly, effortlessly. I could hardly feel its delicate touch. Two wire-thin antennae, flickering, protruded from its tiny round head painted with a small red dot. I tried not to tremble. My hands often move on their own, whether I want them to or not, so I focused intensely, willing myself to remain still. Its black wings, so shiny, opened and closed like scissors. I barely breathed. Dark lines that looked like they'd been painted on its back with a fine-tipped pen separated the crimson from the ebony. The firefly seemed to be in no hurry to leave. It looked right at me. I wondered about the magic of having iridescent floaties attached to my body--what it would feel like to lift into the air and glide on a whisper of wind. What are you thinking, Mr. Firefly? As if it could hear me, its wings flexed out and in. And then it happened. One tiny bloom of bright yellow-green light gleamed from its body. It spoke to me! I know quite a bit about speaking out loud without saying a word. As we sat there in the purpling twilight, just me and that lightning bug, I sighed with happiness. I might have breathed out too hard, because at that moment, the tiny insect lifted its wings and took off on an unseen breeze. Excerpted from Out of My Heart by Sharon M. Draper All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.