The Sad Story

I awoke this morning with a story that wanted 'out' 

the kind that doesn't leave you alone until it pours forth. 

Unfortunately it also wants to be shared here

But be warned this isn't my usual fashion

~ ~ ~

Every day he took the same path to work

Day after day the dull grey path connected point A to point B

He could walk this dreary path blindfolded and always end up where he needed to be

One day he heard something and looking around

Noticed a brightly colored bird high in the trees

But before he could stop and look, it fluttered away

The next day he heard it again; the happy chirping high in the trees

Moving off the path he looked up and saw a bird unlike the others

He caught glimpses of color that seemed to penetrate the gloom

Her happy song filled the air before she spread her wings and soared through the sky

He resumed his path wondering what type of bird she was and where she had come from

The next day he scanned the tops of the trees looking for the bird

He heard her happy song before turning the corner and he felt a slight stirring in his heart

Catching sight of her he noticed that the other birds seemed drawn to her

There were several near her picking up the melody of her happy song

He stopped to look and noticed that her colors were so vibrant they seemed to radiate light

It seemed as if the leaves near her were greener and the hues in the birds close to her richer

Her song mixed in with the others and created a swirl of music that intoxicated his senses

He had to have her

For several weeks he watched her draw in the others; encouraging their song and flight

Watched her spread her wings and become one with the winds and sky

Heard her song and watched how her light seemed to draw life back into the gloom

And each day he scattered bread crumbs among the fallen branches in the hope of drawing her near

Until one day he noticed her eating and in one swift move threw a net over his bird

Excitement bubbled within him as he ran home with his prize

He lovingly placed her in the beautiful cage he had readied for her weeks ago

She seemed scared; he noticed the beating in her little chest, as she flew from one wall to the other

He placed the cage near the window where she could look out at the sky

Until she could get used to her new home

He resumed his walk to work

Noticing that each day the gloom seemed to return to the path

The birds’ songs reduced to a chirp here or there and the colors seemed as drab as ever

His bird was behaving the same way

He didn’t know what was wrong with her

Why wasn’t she happy? She had food and water and a beautiful cage

Instead of happy songs she spent her evenings thrashing against the cage walls

Or huddled in a corner looking out the window

Why couldn’t she be like the other domesticated birds?

They were content in their cages; they appreciated what they had

Why was she so different?

Her once colorful feathers were falling out

Those left behind were dull and grey

She was ugly and dispirited

She didn’t even act like the others

This bird was depressing and he had to get rid of her

Having made up his mind to release her on his way to work

He woke up and went to the cage

And found that she had died during the night

Disgusted, he lifted her out of the cage and tossed her in the trash

And resumed his daily activities