i took a half hour break from work today and on my way home i came across a woman trying to shoo an injured bird into a cardboard box so that it could perhaps rest and rejuvinate itself enough to get back into it's nest. i stopped to help hold the cardboard flaps open and she nudged the baby in as the parent's sqwaked their annoyance. two women joined in a common cause to try and help and restore balance. we placed the box under the tree and went in our respective ways.

on my way home after work was finished i wanted to check on the little guy. thought i might take him to the vet if he wasn't looking so good. i couldn't find the street at first but upon crossing over an ave noticed that some upcoming pine trees looked familiar. the box wasn't under the tree. it was white and not easy to miss even from a distance. it was laying on the sidewalk and the bird was sprawled out dead beside it. his parent's were in the tree and there was silence. the absence of their noise felt like an overwhelming grief.

i felt cheated and i stood there with cars and people and life passing by and i cried.

[life is unfair. and life unjust. and expectation will kill us all.]