Farewell

On that day I gained something; just a measly object that I've been wanting for quite a while now, but I also lost something on that morning, and it was you.

For some reason I couldn't get any sleep that night, not even a minute of shut eye, that surely was a first for me. I guess a part of me knew that something was up, something wasn't normal.

Whatever it was that I gained on that day, I would happily give it up on that day and moment, just to have you back here. Even after I got back in the evening on that exact day, I was hoping to see you right there in your little spot, resting cozily. Hoping that I could keep you by my side for one last time, while I work away on my desk.

I don't know how it happened, why it happened; you were just fine, all healthy and playful just the other day. Everyone says it was the very abrupt change to a high heat and humid weather, but a part of me says it was my incompetence and not being the caring guardian that you needed.

I took these pictures the day before you left us. I called you out of your cage, picked you up and put you here; where you sat like the perfect model and just posed away.

Those curious, ever glowing eyes, and that baby shy smile. You were undoubtedly one of the smallest; yet, most intelligent animal that I have taken care of. You had invested all your trust in me from day one, letting me train you with the basics, staying calm and still when I picked you up, and tried to clean your tiny beak and those scruffy little feathers.

Your parents were quite a stubborn bunch in their younger days, your mother was fairly brave, but even she started resisting because of your timid little father. You and your little sibling though, you both were born under our guard, our protection, us humans; that is why you you both never shied away. You both saw us every day as hatchlings; a goofy bunch of humans just peeking through, just to get a little glimpse of you both.

Sadly, the third egg didn't make it for some reason, we were always hopeful though, but that day never came.

Even though you were a brave little bird, your little brother used to resist quite a lot, but with time I did break through that little barrier as well. Sadly, he passed away too, at a very frail state and younger age. And that's when you became my last hope; keeping you healthy and well, seeing you grow, had become my ultimate goal.

I never knew that I would end up caring for you this much; where one day you'd become a necessity, my little work buddy.

You would sit in front of my keyboard, and I would softly lay my palms over you, like a soft and cozy shield; using my thumb to pet your little head, while you slowly fell asleep. Or just put you on the chair next to me, and you would take turns starting at me and then at the monitor. You would sometimes gaze into the monitor and smile for no reason, even groove a bit to the music that I would play.

Whenever you got bored you just flapped your little wings and tried to fly around, and you surely were getting close. You were almost old and capable enough of flying, but now it's just a thing of the past, a passionate effort, a loving memory. 🖤