The Bird

The bird had always been a cage all her life – and she never knew how to fly. She never learned how to, there was no parent close by, and the humans… The humans didn’t have wings, they didn’t care for wings, but the bird saw the young ones pretending to fly. The humans always did, but they would never. Not ever.1

Only birds could fly and birds weren’t human.2

The bird cocked its head, hearing the sound of footsteps – the big human, the fat one that would feed her. The bird chirped happily as it was fed, it didn’t care for freedom, it was happy here, it was happy with the food here.3

But the bird was lonely as it saw the other birds fly – maybe it too hoped to fly one day. Maybe it too was human.4

“I don’t get it!”5

The other winged creatures flew away at the scream – but the bird was used to it, the bird has always been hearing the little one, or well, no-longer-a-little-one scream. 6

“I mean I’m your daughter and I’m a teenager now! Older than even a teenager! And what? I can’t even decide whether I can go out or not?”7

The big human looked at the thin one, and the bird saw glances exchange. The bird saw their pain, but the bird too saw how the no-longer-a-little-one was suffering. The bird looked across the room where little-one-grown-big-human avoided all gazes. The bird knew this new big human knew the pain as well. That human knew everything, like the bird did.8

“No, darling-“9

“Don’t sweet-talk me!”10

The bird nipped at her food silently as war raged below her. The bird longed for silence, so her flying companions would come back again – and they would tell her of their adventures. And then maybe she won’t be so lonely.11

“We’re worried, darling. It’s just that-“12

“Excuses, excuses, excuses! That’s all you ever do – making up excuses! I’m sick and tried of being like this! I’m sick and tired of being your slave! I… I!”13

And the no-longer-a-little-one ran over to the bird’s cage and opened the door. The bird was shocked but given a little shove, she took flight. The bird was flying at long last. At long last, the bird was free – and it could find its flying companions. They could fly together, and the bird though she would be happy.14

“I’m like this bird! I need to fly away from the cage once in a while!”15

The bird kept flying, but it couldn’t stop. The fun, the thrill of the wind all got to the bird, and she wasn’t just a bird anymore. She was a free one, and no one could contain her. No one could ever catch the bird anymore. The bird kept flying and flying and flying on circles. The other watched, and they called for her to stop, but she didn’t want to.16

The bird thought it fun.17

But then the bird was tired and weary – she wanted food, she wanted a shelter. The bird didn’t know how to land, so she kept flying and flying, through the rains and cloudy days. The bird was tired, she fell to the ground and she stayed there, unable to move. She tried to call for her friends, but they never answered. They were far away by now.18

The bird could barely open her eyes.19

“Hey! A dying bird!”20

“Young miss, we-“21

“But it’s dying! I have to save it!”22

“No, we insist that we meet your parents first-“23

“Oh my god! Policeman, why is my sister with you?”24

“Your sister? I’m sorry, sir, but your sister shoplifted-“25

“Shoplifted? She.. She’s not that kind of person…”26

“I’m afraid she did, sir.”27

“I…I didn’t mean it! It was a dare! Krissy gave me a dare! I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… But the bird… the bird… it’s dying…”28

The bird lifted her eyes up. In front of her, no-longer-a-little-one was crying, and the little-one-grown-big-one stood awkwardly, not knowing what to do. The human in blue stood, watching them and watching her. The bird gave a last chirp – a laugh, but it only sounded like a squeak of death to the humans.29

The bird laughed bitterly, and only the wind understood.30

Maybe… 31

Maybe humans were birds after all.32