All She Ever Wanted

Breaking a young girl’s heart can lead to dangerous places.

For Emelia-Jane, it led to a biology degree, a masters in herpetology, and a doctorate in genetics. From there, it led on to funding struggles, long nights, and years spent in the lab.

And finally, it led to a kitten-sized creature with gold-flecked scales, leathery wings and smoke rising lazily from its nostrils.

“He’s called Freckles,” she told the stunned reporters.

All because on her 8th birthday, her father said “Oh, sweetie, I know I promised you anything you wanted, but there’s just no such thing as a pet dragon.”