I stood in disbelief of what had happened. The wind itself
turning against me, preventing me from freeing the songbird of her cage. Even
for just a moment. But, deep down, even I knew it would not be for just a
moment. I wanted more. And, the wind knew, as well.
On a whim, I began pleading with the songbird. I peppered her with personal questions. I wanted answers. Answers that might put my uncertain concerns to rest. She tried to convince me that all was well with her situation. But, in my heart, I disagreed with every word she sang to me.
I could tell the wind sensed my frustration. It knew my intent and was starting to grow restless. Impatient. Intolerant.
I gave the songbird one last heartfelt thought. The burning question struck her breast like a flaming arrow. With that final effort, reason outweighed her premature contentment and childlike fears. Reason to escape her gilded prison. And, I once again made it my goal to free her.
Quickly, I reached up and repeatedly tore at the lock with my fingers(as if my own hand was all that was needed). But, it would not budge. The songbird told me it would not be enough. She chirped a shrill note high into the air which magically opened the prison door and allowed her to fly free.
High above the tree under which I stood, the clouds began to swirl and darken with a thunderous rage. The surrounding trees hissed and moaned as they pointed their branches at the songbird and I. A storm was swiftly brewing and focussing its fury upon my head. The gilded cage tossed and twirled as the winds intensified. More brittle brown leaves began pelting my face and forearms as forceful gusts tore at my shoulders and ankles. I could feel my breath becoming short.
"No!" cried the songbird as she watched me weaken against the strong wind's wrath.
I could hear her pleading with the storm. Begging it to stop. I could have sworn I heard her say "He is my friend! Unlike you!" just before she took off high into the sky like a bolt of lightning returning to the heavens from which it came. I watched her ascend only to be struck down by a powerful force in the blink of an eye.
[Kra-KOOM-OOM-OOMMM!!!]
It all happened so fast. And, before I could remember to breathe, I found her limp on the ground at my feet with her tail feathers fractured in several places. Her neck broken, I watched her head waver side-to-side as she fought to remain conscious. It felt like I was trapped under twenty feet of water as I bent down to place my right hand under her broken wing.
She gasped, "I tried. I'll always remember you. What you tried to do for me. Do not let my passing trouble you. Know that you did what you felt was right. And, most of all, be happy. You deserve happiness."
Again, I shook my head in disbelief. I told her I'd find a way to save her. But, she told me it was already too late. And, with her last breath, she whispered, "Thank you."
As I sat there quietly on my knees with the songbird dead beneath my hand, a darkness swept over my thoughts. My heart wrapped itself tight in barbed wire(as it often would when a love was lost). Fighting the force of the waves crashing upon me, I stood tall, took a deep heated breath and raised my now angry and tearful eyes toward the sky. I stared deep into the eye of the storm and threw a furious fist high into the swirling winds. It did not budge in their grasp though they tried their hardest to weaken me.
Revenge. I vowed revenge against the violent force that had taken such a beautiful creature from the Earth. I would not let him hurt another. I may not have been the one to save her, but I would not let the songbird die in vain.
Thus began a painful battle in a potentially never ending war...
On a whim, I began pleading with the songbird. I peppered her with personal questions. I wanted answers. Answers that might put my uncertain concerns to rest. She tried to convince me that all was well with her situation. But, in my heart, I disagreed with every word she sang to me.
I could tell the wind sensed my frustration. It knew my intent and was starting to grow restless. Impatient. Intolerant.
I gave the songbird one last heartfelt thought. The burning question struck her breast like a flaming arrow. With that final effort, reason outweighed her premature contentment and childlike fears. Reason to escape her gilded prison. And, I once again made it my goal to free her.
Quickly, I reached up and repeatedly tore at the lock with my fingers(as if my own hand was all that was needed). But, it would not budge. The songbird told me it would not be enough. She chirped a shrill note high into the air which magically opened the prison door and allowed her to fly free.
High above the tree under which I stood, the clouds began to swirl and darken with a thunderous rage. The surrounding trees hissed and moaned as they pointed their branches at the songbird and I. A storm was swiftly brewing and focussing its fury upon my head. The gilded cage tossed and twirled as the winds intensified. More brittle brown leaves began pelting my face and forearms as forceful gusts tore at my shoulders and ankles. I could feel my breath becoming short.
"No!" cried the songbird as she watched me weaken against the strong wind's wrath.
I could hear her pleading with the storm. Begging it to stop. I could have sworn I heard her say "He is my friend! Unlike you!" just before she took off high into the sky like a bolt of lightning returning to the heavens from which it came. I watched her ascend only to be struck down by a powerful force in the blink of an eye.
[Kra-KOOM-OOM-OOMMM!!!]
It all happened so fast. And, before I could remember to breathe, I found her limp on the ground at my feet with her tail feathers fractured in several places. Her neck broken, I watched her head waver side-to-side as she fought to remain conscious. It felt like I was trapped under twenty feet of water as I bent down to place my right hand under her broken wing.
She gasped, "I tried. I'll always remember you. What you tried to do for me. Do not let my passing trouble you. Know that you did what you felt was right. And, most of all, be happy. You deserve happiness."
Again, I shook my head in disbelief. I told her I'd find a way to save her. But, she told me it was already too late. And, with her last breath, she whispered, "Thank you."
As I sat there quietly on my knees with the songbird dead beneath my hand, a darkness swept over my thoughts. My heart wrapped itself tight in barbed wire(as it often would when a love was lost). Fighting the force of the waves crashing upon me, I stood tall, took a deep heated breath and raised my now angry and tearful eyes toward the sky. I stared deep into the eye of the storm and threw a furious fist high into the swirling winds. It did not budge in their grasp though they tried their hardest to weaken me.
Revenge. I vowed revenge against the violent force that had taken such a beautiful creature from the Earth. I would not let him hurt another. I may not have been the one to save her, but I would not let the songbird die in vain.
Thus began a painful battle in a potentially never ending war...
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