Flight

Chapter Four - Euphoria

I flap my white feathered wings. We soar higher and higher. I feel the breeze through my feathers. I can’t believe this is happening. I can see clearly without eyeglasses! …and most especially, I am now a dove and I am flying!

“Open your eyes, girl. You might bump on somethin’,” Mr. Columbus says.

“Oh right, sorry,” I say. The moment I open my eyes, everything stops. I am midair, gliding using my wings. My own very wings! This is the best day—wait, no—night of my life ever! I am seeing a different view of the city. It’s not even close to just being by the window, looking down from the highest floor of the building. So this is how it feels like flying.

“Woooohoo!” I yell. This is better than amazing! I do some few loops in the air. Now I don’t know where is up or down. I am flailing helplessly.

“Turn around, girl. And put less pressure on your left wing.”

I turn around and follow his every command. Thankfully, I am able to go back in equilibrium. We continue on flying until we reach the seashore. I stop.

“I don’t think I’m ready to fly on the ocean.” I tell him.

“No, you can do it. The ocean is vast and wide, perfect for flying,” Mr. Columbus says. I can’t tell him that I’m afraid of the ocean. I don’t know how to swim. I stay on my post and keep my distance over the waters. Mr. Columbus is meters ahead of me now. “Come on, I’ll let you meet the whole family.”

Hearing the word family, that changes my mind. Okay, I guess I’ll try. I also want to meet new friends anyway. Think of happy thoughts. I just learned how to fly, so maybe I can also learn how to swim—but not today. I fly slowly towards the ocean.

“There, there you can do it,” he coaches on.

I love the sky! Just think that the ocean is the sky as well. I am a dove in the middle of sky sandwich. I hold my breath and continue flying. I am able to reach Mr. Columbus. I am flying on the ocean!

“Well done, girl.”

My night couldn’t get any better than this. I release a big heavy sigh of relief.

* * *

I was wrong. My heart lifts up as I saw more pigeons and birds fly from their nests, welcoming us. We are in a little island in the middle of the ocean. This must be a pigeon paradise—no, wait—birds paradise! There are lots of kinds of birds, too many to mention all of their species. Mr. Columbus went to find his wife so that he can introduce her to me. I am currently hovering on top of the highest tree and looking out. Also this way, Mr. Columbus would find it easy to see me later on his way back.

I just admire the view. Those must be the other migrating birds that pass our city. Big broad wings. Colorful feathers. Sharp and dull beaks. Beautiful eyes. Turning around in place, I suddenly crash to another pigeon passing by. I lost control. We both lost control.

“Ahhh!” he shouts.

“Ahhhhhh!” I scream.

Oh no! What should I do? I feel the wind madly hitting my feathers. My body is drilling down—twisting and twirling. The pigeon is wildly falling as well but after some time it gains control as it flaps his wings.

“Work your wings!” it says, I also realize it’s a he.

Right! Why would I forget that? Good thing we were falling from that high tree. I still have the time to flap my wings. I did it a couple of times and suddenly glide as I go up again. This time, I sit on the branch on top of the tree rather than just hovering around.

After settling ourselves, the pigeon—who is acting as if nothing crazy and dangerous just happened—says, “Hi, I’m Kevin.”