Maple Finch

Aviator University, the dream school for any bird interested in anatomy. Specifically me, Maple, a finch at Northway Academy.

I love science and want to be an archeologist one day. I’ll study prehistoric creatures like mammals and their prey.

Despite my goals, I can never stay focused. I second guess everything and try not to show it.

Anxiety, always preventing me from taking the next step. I know what I need to do but I’m too worried about my rep.

Honestly, the thought of not existing constantly crosses my mind. What it’d be like to silence the voices and not deal with the grind.

But I decide to keep going time after time. Overthinking everyday and falling asleep by nine.

I put on a smile at school so no one will know. If only I was more like Barry, the life of the show.

Barry was confident, outgoing and proud. Everyone knew him as the strongest Owl around.

He was cool and calm with wings everyone wanted to see. He had gatherings at his barn and was sociable as can be.

I mean, who wouldn't want to be Barry and stay up partying all night. Get any hen you want and record the fastest flights.

Although, Barry knew who I was, surprisingly enough. He’d ask me for answers in Bio whenever it got tough.

And across the same classroom, sat my crush. She was the nicest Dove in school and always made me blush.

She wasn’t that popular but to me she was perfect. She didn’t get much attention but that's what made her worth it.

Humble and pure, I’d dream about her in class. Although she had a rather large beak, so other birds may pass.

It sure didn’t phase me, not a single flaw could. Everyday I want to talk to her then second guess if I should.

Too shy to strike, we’d share small talk here and there. In my head she was an angel, but that, I could never share.

I knew the day would come, when I'd finally tell her how I feel. For now I have to continue studying and focus on what’s real.

Focus on the now even though my thoughts are on the later. I know I need school to avoid settling as a worm trader.

So I put my head down and locked myself in my books. I studied non-stop and didn't care how I looked.

Another day of school, for another day of learning. As I kept growing, everything else was less concerning.

A couple months passed and I was still a nobody to most. But it didn't bother me anymore, I might as well have been a ghost.

That's when the news came. “I did it! I finally did it!” Accepted into my top school to be a Historian, I immediately committed.

I walked into class the next day with a smile, but this time it was real. The most confidence I ever had until my next meal.

Sitting down at lunch when she caught my eye. I would say I was over her, but I don’t like to lie.

I'm just a little Finch, the smallest in the room. But inside I felt a firework just waiting to boom.

About to do something way out of my comfort zone, it was scary. So I said to myself repeatedly, “Be like Barry. Be like Barry. Be like Barry”

So I picked up my lunch and sat right next to the Dove. Then without hesitation I confessed to her my love.

She was embarrassed at first, as her friends started to giggle. My cheeks quickly blushed as my stomach started to ripple.

Then my nerves calmed, as she gave me her number. All of a sudden my heart felt warm, breaking the restraints it was under.

I went home with euphoria coursing through my veins. Little did I know it was all part of a malicious game.

We exchanged messages for about a week, as I opened up about my life. To her it was just text, but I envisioned her as my wife.

Occasionally, I fly through the neighborhood before I go to sleep. It helped me clear my thoughts, but eventually made me a creep.

Yes. I admit it. After we started talking I got a little weird. I’d fly past her nest. Knowing she was safe kept my mind cleared.

Until one night I flew by, in awe of what would appear. It was Barry! They were mating and she was no longer pure.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. My heart shattered piece by piece. Instantly all my anxiety was back causing my heart rate to increase.

Now I am home with my blood boiling, I am furious. I stayed up all night going mad, maybe even delirious.

“Barry! Out of all people! He can have any hen he wants.” “Why did he choose the one I love? Was it some sort of taunt?”

At this point I didn’t care about anything at all. He thinks he can do anything he wants while he stands there so tall.

Well I will be the one to cut him down a few inches. Tomorrow I will go to school and stand up for all the Finches.

The little guy never wins, so I’ll have to belittle him. I'm going to hammer in his knees then smash his wings thin.

It is evil I know, but I don’t care what happens after. I’d rather rot in jail than be a joke for others' laughter.

So I walk into school, still with bad intentions in mind. I know I’m throwing away my future, all the work and all the grind.

But I keep replaying the moment and how it made me feel. And if I can serve him the same pain then I’ll take that deal.

Here I am at my locker with the weapon in my bag. Suddenly, Barry approached me, probably here to brag.

He won’t be taunting me in a few seconds as I reach for my hammer. But I hesitated as he started talking and it wasn’t any slander.

In fact he was just talking, and sounded kind of sad. He said “Maple, you have always helped me and my grades are still bad.”

“It’s my fault, see I am very lazy. I think about my image and I always let it phase me.”

“Constantly worried about what others think, socializing keeps me happy. But now that graduation is around the corner, I’ve been feeling very crappy.”

“I struggle to open up, so no one knows how much it scares me. Everyone just sees me and thinks, ‘Wow, look at Barry.’”

“In the real world, I can only get so far with my attraction. The past few months I’ve done nothing but try to find distractions.”

“To be honest after high school, I don't know what I'm going to do. Truth is, deep down, I wish I was a little more like you.”