Little green songbird

Anika Seshadri

“Do you believe in reincarnation?” Her emerald eyes peered deep into mine. I scofed, amused by a confdence I could only describe as remarkable. “No. It doesn’t exist—” “I want to become a songbird,” she whispered so faintly she could be mistaken for the crisp breeze. Dragging my hand, she pulled me down the undiscovered trail all the while singing her favorite song. “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, You make me happy when skies are grey.” Her sweet voice cascaded through the canyon. The frolicking river below seemed to drum a base and left my heart thumping to the beat of her playful steps. We spent an eternity entwined with sweet words, delicate smiles, and blissful memories. Leaping over the fames and obstacles with hands entwined because we had each other, and that was enough.

But I still noticed how her auburn hair was overtaken by wisps of white; the fery green in her eyes had dulled to a cool grey. She grew weaker and weaker until her gleaming fame snufed out. She was gone. This was the frst morning I woke up without her. I reached across the bed to embrace her, and was met with cool empty sheets. I lingered on the stairs, our picture frames following me down. Flooding me with mental polaroids of the way she walked, the way she laughed, and most importantly, the way she sang. I slowly sank into my arm chair, its bright yellow arms embracing me. My body heaved and ached with sorrow as I let the anguish overcome me. I looked outside the window as the sun peeked through the clouds. The trees in our yard were alive, but barren. Our whole house was void of life. Suddenly I heard the futter of a bird, precariously perched atop the branches of our fg tree. As a familiar tune flled the air I let out a wavering sigh and my grief trickled down the sides of my aging cheeks. As I observed the bird once more, fitting its efulgent emerald feathers, the notes it chirped made my heart swell. The sides of my wrinkled mouth lifted into a grateful smile, and I softly fnished the song I knew all too well. “You’ll never know dear, how much I love you, Please don’t take my sunshine away.”