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But the bird was ready to go- ready to fly and she realized that there was no way that she could stop it. He couldn’t wait for that door to open. He couldn’t wait to discover a more beautiful world than the one he knew. He couldn’t wait, not just to see the trees, but to land on their branches. He couldn’t wait to see other birds and to be with them too. Most of all, he couldn’t wait to reach the sky, to feel the wind and to soar high.
Then he saw the girl’s tears running down her cheeks, try as she did to stop it. He felt sorry for her. Though he couldn’t thank the girl enough for taking care of him and for saving him that day, he now knew that he couldn’t belong to that cage all his life. “I can’t thank you enough for saving me and for taking care of me. I can’t imagine what would have happened to me on that day if you hadn’t been there to save me. I know I owe you my life and for that I will be forever grateful,” uttered the bird.
Though, deep inside, the bird wanted to discover things beyond those four corners of the cage, he knew that his conscience couldn’t bear leaving the girl sad and empty. So he said to the girl, “I am sorry if I am the one who caused you tears; the last thing that I wanted to see from you is sadness. If leaving this cage will make you sad, then I will stay. I will stay because I couldn’t bear seeing someone who has been so good to me in pain.” Tears continued to flow down her cheeks; she was happy at first hearing those words. She wouldn’t be alone anymore, but she felt empty still. There was a part of her that wanted to see that little creature spread its wings and conquer the sky. She knew he didn’t belong to that cage for the rest of his life. There was a better world out there than that temporary shelter she had given to the bird. Perhaps it was time to let go...
“I am happy to hear that you won’t leave now, but I love you; that is why I’m letting you go. The first time I saw you in the bush and wounded, all I ever dreamt was, not to just see you fly, but to soar high. There is a bigger and a brighter world for you up there. Here in this cage, you will only see limited trees and flowers, but there up above, you can see the whole picture of the world; a different landscape. I am afraid to open this door because I know I will be alone again. Now that I am used to having you with me wherever I go, it seems so hard to imagine taking a journey all alone again. That is the reason I cried. But I don’t want you to simply stay there because I am too cowardly to be alone. If I let you stay then you will end up like me; someone who settled for less, just to be in a safe place. But I want you to chase your dream. I want to see you above, joining the clouds and other birds, soaring freely. What could be more fulfilling for a bird than spreading its wings freely in the sky, conquering, feeling the wind and being home? Now go and let your journey begin. Take risks if you may. Never be scared to get hurt by hunters, you have strong wings to help you get through it all. You have quite enough rest and energy to sustain you towards your sky.”
The little girl opened the cage. The bird spread its wings and soared towards the sky. At first he thought he was going to fall, and that he wouldn’t make it, but then he tried and tried harder until he could feel the wind guiding him in his new journey. When he looked back, he saw that he was moving a little further each minute. He uttered, “Thank you, and I’ll miss you, wishing that the girl could hear him.”
“I love you, and you take care,” the girl said, hoping that her words would be blown by the wind towards the bird’s heart...
Days have passed and each day the girl learns how to be in solitude again. She doesn’t feel empty, for she knows that the bird is in a place where he belongs. She knows that the bird will reach the peak; she just hopes that she will witness that day. She never fails to watch the sky, hoping that she will have a glimpse of that once little bird who made her life worth living and made her feel a sense of purpose.
One sunny morning, she wakes up feeling strangely happy. When she goes out, she notices that there is a powerful bird flying across the sky, so high that it looks like an airplane from afar. She follows his path with her eyes and notices that he is not alone. She couldn’t be happier because, deep within her heart, she knows that the bird is where he truly belongs. She thinks for a while, cries a little for reasons she doesn’t even know. Then she decides to pack her bags and leave the little cottage, and whispers a prayer to the wind.
Perhaps, its time to find her home too.
-The end or perhaps the beginning...
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jean celeste paredes
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Comments
jamal siddiqui | Mar 26th, 2008
nice work jean!!!!
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