Flight

What Happened the Night before Migration

I went back to our condominium that night. I don’t care if I was left my Mr. Columbus, Kevin and the other birds. I really need to see my family.

Just the sight of my family in our room just like what I had imagined brought tears to my eyes. I didn’t imagine it, I really did see it. I wanted to go back although I don’t know how. I realized that when I became a bird, I left my body in a coma. I did not die.

I was wrong. They didn’t leave me. They were always there. Except for that one night where I was the one who left them. I can’t help crying outside by the window. No tear falls from my dove-face but I can hear myself sobbing. And then I saw Kevin. He said he was looking for me because he won’t leave without me. I tried to calm myself. Kevin’s expression changed seeing me like this. He either doesn’t know my situation or knew about it from the start. He left and called Mr. Columbus.

“Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be back with Mr. Columbus.”

It felt like the whole night waiting for them. I’m watching my Ma sleep. She rests her head on my bed. It was minutes before midnight that they came back. Mr. Columbus was sorry for making me a dove. I don’t regret a single thing being a dove.

“It was never your fault Mr. Columbus. You are a very good friend but I need to get back to my family.”

He understood. They understood.

“We’ll miss you,” Kevin said.

“It is very nice meeting you,” Mr. Columbus said and gave me a big winged hug. “I love you like my own daughter as well.”

I also gave Kevin a hug. “I’ll miss you all as well. Say goodbye to the little ducklings and chicks for me.”

“We’ll be back and will be looking out for you,” he added.

A Minute before midnight, when I opened my eyes my wings and feathers are gone. I was lying on my bed in my very human body and my Ma beside me. I held her hand and she awakens.

I gave her a hug and said with my hoarse voice, “I’m back, I’m back.”

We cry in each other’s arms and she kissed the top of my head. My Pa must have heard my Ma’s sobs and immediately entered the room. He joined us as well. My grandma and Hazel both entered the room after him.

“I’m going to call the doctor,” my father said.

“I’ll come with you,” my mother said and joins my father.

Before they left, they have me another hug. Grandma also gave me a hug and left me with Hazel to make something for us to eat or drink. Hazel apologized to me and admitted she was jealous because I was always with someone else and not her. I missed her as well and gave her a hug. I’ll always love my best friend. She started to update me with what’s happening at school. She says I was just in time before the final exams and I’d be able to graduate.

Everything happened so fast that I almost forgot about Kevin and Mr. Columbus. I looked by the window and saw two pigeon. The fat one waved a wing at me and the other one just stared and cooed.

“Did you just see the fat one waved at me?” I asked Hazel. She stopped talking and looked at Mr. Columbus.

“No. I can see a pigeon flapping its wings,” she replied.

I just laughed at her thought, but I knew they were saying goodbye. I waved back to them and they flew away.

“Look, you scared them away!” Hazel exclaimed and we both laughed. I’m just happy I’m back.