All she saw at first was the glint of the sun on the wing as it flew through the air. It was a common enough sight, nothing to really pay attention to. She paid it no mind and went back to what it was she was doing.

Something tugged at her subconscious. Something wasn't right. She squinted into the sunlight again.

She could see it more clearly now. It was closer.

It shouldn't be that close.

No, she was being ridiculous. It couldn't possibly be flying that low. It was a trick of the light. Or her eyes needed testing again.

She shook her head and tried to focus.

It was heading right for her.

She could measure the distance between them in heartbeats.

There was nowhere for her to go.

It was unmistakable now. She could see the wingspan. She could even see the tiny adjustments it made to its trajectory as it flew towards her.

There was nothing to do but brace for impact and pray beyond all reasoning that death would not be the result.

She watched, mesmerised as it sped towards her.

It dipped its wings briefly and cannoned into her.

There was a breathless moment.

And a sigh of relief as the butterfly fluttered drunkenly up from her chest and flew over her shoulder into the spring sunlight.

True story. Happened to me walking to work a couple of days ago. What would you have thought of it had I written in a couple of months ago?