A Fable (Part 1)

Once, there was a bird who lived on top of the tallest tree beside the lake. She sings delightful songs, and everyone is fond of her. Everyday, a fish comes near the shore to listen to her sing, and eventually, he fell in love. He told her so one day. At first the bird was reluctant to requite the love of the handsome young fish, but gradually, she fell in love with him also.

Everyday, they talk to each other: the bird on the shore, and the fish swimming along the banks. They went on like this, never holding, never touching, but their love is so strong they were contented with the way they were.

It came to pass that they cannot help asking each other the most important question, but which they were trying to put at the back of their minds: How are they going to live together?

Hesistantly, the bird said that the inevitable has happened, and that they should part ways, thinking that the fish would be happier with someone else. The fish, with a heavy heart, agreed. They said their goodbyes, and never saw each other again.

After a few years, the bird became old, but she still sings delightful songs, though they had taken a melancholic quality that had never been there before. She moved from the tallest tree beside the lake to the biggest tree in the center of the forest, where most birds live. She tried to find a mate, but her heart had already been given away, so she decided to stay unmarried.

One lonely night, while the owls hoot and the sparrows sleep, the bird was restless and unable to sleep. So she thought, "what the heck?", puts n her shawl, and flew back to her old home.


-to be continued-