A Big Soul in a Small Body

I'm not sure what happened. The last thing I remember was falling from the sky and hitting the ground too hard. My head felt wonky and discombobulated, and I realized I couldn't fly. I tried—I fluttered my wings with force, but it didn't help. I couldn't take off. I was stuck. And I was afraid. I could sense and see big creatures pass me by all the time. I was scared I'd get trampled, or worse, mutilated and left suffering on that sterile and dry pavement… suffering a slow death.

I lay there, waiting for my imminent demise, when suddenly, I noticed one of the giants stop by me. Was it going to squash me to death? Eat me? What was happening? To my surprise, it gently tapped me, maybe checking to see if I was dead. It picked me up carefully, and I felt comfortable and safe in her hands, holding on to her fingers with dear life. I wasn't alone anymore.

I still didn't know her intentions, but I was in no position to fight or flee. I guess I just submitted to my fate, whatever that was. She walked around—she seemed uncertain of where to go or what to do. She kept talking to me softly and reassuringly, even though I couldn't really understand her. Not by her words, anyway, but I gathered from her energy, her demeanor, and her softness, that she was being kind. She gave me a little bit of water on a tissue, I guess trying to hydrate me, though I don't really drink water, per se. I was hungry, but when a mosquito approached ready to sting her, I couldn't find the strength to catch it. Was this it? Was this the end of me?

A couple of times, she tried to put me down, but I held on to her finger, unsure of what would happen to me if I were left alone again. I finally felt the warmth of another being, and feeling that I didn't have much longer to live, I didn't want those last hours of my life to be in complete solitude and helplessness. I loved the forest, the trees, the song the grass made when it danced with the wind. I loved the blue sky and the unattainable clouds… but I wasn't able to enjoy it the way I had done up until the point I hit the ground.

I fluttered my wings a few more times… trying desperately to recover that which I had lost: my freedom. But it was all in vain. I couldn't take flight—I was stuck in this creature's big hands, perched on her soft finger. After a while walking with her, I was pretty sure she didn't mean me any harm. She continued talking to me, and she annoyingly petted my head, which I made sure to let her know annoyed me immensely by scratching at my head with my front legs. I think she got it because, thankfully, she stopped doing it. However, I felt her love. I felt her good intentions, and I felt calm.

Eventually, we arrived at a big space without any grass, or flowers, or trees. It wasn't beautiful, and I couldn't see the clouds or the sky anymore, but I felt safe. She tried giving me a little bit of liquid again, and I attempted a little sip—it was slightly sweet. I felt a surge of energy come to me, but not enough. She placed me in an area with some stones, a little water—enough that I could sip but not drown—some leaves, and some sticks I could hold on to as if it were a home. I guess she was caring for me, or trying to anyway. Little did she know that it was futile. My days of flying and exploring the wilderness were behind me… it was a matter of hours from now on out.

I looked at her, trying to figure out why she was doing this. I knew it was kindness, but why? I guess she felt compassion seeing me there, so helpless and incapable of going anywhere. I don't think she meant to remove me from my environment for selfish reasons, but she probably thought it was the best for me. Perhaps some rest, perhaps some fluids… but, oh! If only I could've told her: "Thank you, but I've already lived all the days I was meant to," she wouldn't have been so worried. I sensed it. I sensed her empathy and capacity to care for a little creature like myself.

She tried her best… but when the lights went dark, and the only sounds I could hear were of the birds outside… I decided to be free again. I slipped away from my body, and I returned to my beloved forest, with its sounds and mysteries. I flew again over the creek and the wetlands where I was born. I felt bad for that creature that tried so hard to help me, but I knew once I hit the floor that the hours I had left on this realm were few… and I will never forget the love and kindness I received in those last moments.