"The Flight of Resilience: A Bird's Journey to Independence" - 2

"The Flight of Resilience: A Bird's Journey to Independence" 

2

The little bird found herself in a world far different from the simple, joyful life she once had with her family. Back then, everything felt safe, and every day was filled with love and laughter. But now, her life was tangled in uncertainty, both emotionally and physically. She was weak, lost, and unsure of how to make herself independent. She longed for a strong shoulder to lean on, to cry on, to unburden herself from the heavy struggles she now carried.

Every day, the older bird reminded her that the food and shelter she was receiving were temporary. “What you have today won’t last forever,” he said. “These are just borrowed comforts. Go, run, and find what belongs to you. Get up and start flying again. Don’t wait for someone to rescue you from this situation, because no one will. Not even me. It’s not my duty, it’s yours.”

These words echoed in her mind. The little bird, despite her broken wings and broken spirit, tried her best to relearn the art of flight. Slowly, she managed to lift herself off the ground, though not soaring as high as she once did. She also tried to find her own food, venturing into the unknown world, but always falling short. The unfamiliar forest challenged her at every turn, and she struggled to survive on her own.

Despite her personal battle, the little bird often helped the older one, especially after he had found food. She would prepare the meals, protect their shelter, and keep herself busy. She believed she was helping him, but deep down, she knew this wasn’t the path to her own freedom. This wasn’t what she needed to do to become independent. She had to face the world on her own, learn how to provide for herself, and build her own life. Her only priority now was survival—finding her own food and creating her own shelter. She understood that this was the only way forward.

Every day, she flew out in search of opportunities, pushing herself to find her place in this new world. She gave it her all but returned empty-handed. Each time, her heart grew heavier with disappointment. She couldn’t bring herself to return home immediately after her failures, so she stayed away for a while, sitting alone, thinking about her shortcomings. She cried, frustrated by her lack of success. She tried to figure out what she was missing, what she needed to do differently. But even in the midst of her tears, she found a spark of motivation, telling herself, “Tomorrow, I’ll try again.”

However, when she finally returned home each night, her guilt weighed her down. She didn’t want to face the older bird with nothing to show for her efforts. She felt ashamed, like she was failing not just herself but the one who had given her shelter. But she had no choice but to face him, even if it was with empty hands and a guilty heart. Every failure made her feel smaller, yet somehow, she knew she had to keep trying. Her journey wasn’t over yet, and deep inside, she believed she could still learn to fly on her own.

To be continued.....

Pooja Mattapalli