Blackbird Fly #16

🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛

(The italicized words are Jack’s inner thoughts.)

Blackbird Fly – Looking Back on Chapter 15

Looking back on Blackbird Fly, Chapter 15: After being missing for several months, Angelita is finally home. She had been placed under protective custody while the investigation into Xochitl’s disappearance was underway.

Upon her return, Jack took her for a walk to the neighborhood park.

“I thought about you every day, my love. With each day you were gone, I fell in love with you even more," Jack said. "I could see your beautiful brown eyes in my mind, but there was sadness in them. I knew that if you ever came back home, I would do whatever it takes to take that sadness away."

He gazed deeply into her eyes. "They’re even more beautiful than I remember. My love for you is endless." Jack took a deep breath and knelt before her. "Angelita, my love, will you be my wife?"

Oh my goodness, what did I do? She hasn’t even been home for twenty minutes, and I’m proposing. Am I crazy?

Jack continued staring into her eyes. "I love you dearly, Angelita."

Stop it, Jack. You’re gonna chase her away. If she says no, I’ll just fall apart.

"Oh, Jack," Angelita sighed. "And I love you, too. But I just got back home after such a freaky experience. And I just found out this morning that Xochitl was raped and murdered. I’m an emotional wreck right now. I’m just not ready to say yes. If the situation were different, I probably would. But I’m just not emotionally ready. I’m not emotionally available."

I knew it! I knew it. It was too soon.

Jack’s intense gaze softened into one of compassion. "I understand, Angelita. I know this is very hard on you. It’s just that I love you so very much. But you’re right—let’s just take our time and sort all of this out."

"Come on, Jack, let’s go back to the house. We’ve got friends and family waiting there for us."

"Yes, let’s go enjoy your welcome home party."

I don’t know how I’m gonna enjoy this party after being rejected like this.

🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛

Angelita’s Welcome Home Party

Angelita’s mom stood by the front room window, watching anxiously. She was keeping an eye out for Jack and Angelita.

"They’re here!" she called out. The rest of the guests quickly gathered in the living room, eager to be present for their arrival.

As Jack and Angelita stepped through the door, the room erupted in cheers and applause. Angelita’s mom rushed toward her daughter, wrapping her in a tight embrace, tears of joy rolling down her face.

A huge, beautiful cake with the words “Welcome Home, Angelita” sat on the table in the middle of the living room. Everyone gathered around the cake for a picture with Angelita.

There were a dozen beautifully wrapped gifts, mostly from her parents, and the smell of enchiladas, rice, and beans filled the house.

“Jack,” Angelita said quietly, “there’s more to it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Come outside with me. We need to talk.”

🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛

Angelita’s Confession

The two stood in the front yard. Angelita took Jack’s hand and gently rubbed the top. “Jack, there’s another reason why I can’t marry you.”

Jack’s stomach grew uneasy. “What is it?”

“I met someone else while I was under protective custody.”

Jack was stunned. His eyes lost focus as sadness spread across his face. “How? Why? But… you and I are together. Is it someone I know?”

“I don’t think you know him. His name is Andrew. He’s the agent that came to check in with me every few days. He was so kind and compassionate. He spoke to me so gently. I broke into tears one time because I was so confused, and he held me—and that’s when I felt the sparks. That’s when I knew something was there. He never made any advances on me. But on my last day in that safe house, he told me he would like to go out sometime. And I said yes.”

“Angelita, I need to go. I need room to process this. Goodbye.”

Angelita stood there, watching as Jack walked away.

🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛

Jack Touches the Sky

Jack wandered aimlessly until he found himself back at the park, standing in the same spot he and Angelita had been an hour earlier.

He sat on the swing and looked up at the sky. “God, why is this happening? I love her. Why am I losing her?” A tear streamed down his cheek.

Jack began swinging, pushing himself higher and higher, as if trying to reach the heavens. With each pump of his legs, he grew closer to the sky. He felt a strange sensation, as though the sky itself were calling him home.

At the height of his swing, his body floated off the seat and gracefully entered the sky. He became one with the heavens as he took flight fluttering his wings.

Up ahead, a flock of blackbirds greeted him. “Come join us. Come sing a song of love.”

Jack joined the blackbirds, peacefully gliding through the clear blue sky. He sang as if he were part of a celestial choir, his voice was filled with the joy of freedom.

Reaching for the stars

Gliding through the sky

Bright heavenly blue

Happy as I fly

🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛

Home is everywhere

Everything is fine

Fly with me and sing

All we have is time

🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛

This is where it all started

🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛

`