I take deep breaths, but no air fills my lungs. Oh dear.
My limbs feel numb, as if they haven’t moved in ages. Creeek!
Mmmrf. Chrrf. Shhkt. Muffled voices, movements. Who?
Why is it that I feel all sticky? I’m scared.

Someone get me out of here.

I had to get out of it was the last thing I did. Poke!
My lungs filled with air, oxygen and nitrogen alike. Gasp!
Immediately, I began to twist and kick. This is my chance!
The walls shifted and I slipped out. Crack!

I’m free. I think I’m actually free.

Slowly, slowly, I wait for my eyes to work. The blurred becomes focused.
I take my time, and my ears begin to work. The muffled becomes clear.
By and by, I find my voice. Chirp, chirp, chirp.
I will myself to look up, and what do I see? Mama.

She helps me clean up. She feeds me. She loves me.

Day by day, I begin to grow with my daring siblings. Shuffle, shuffle.
Then the special day came, and I was not ready. Uh-oh.
One by one, the ones I loved hopped off our home. Why?
Then, before I knew it, Mama had jumped off too. No! Don’t leave me!

And they stared back at me with their blank faces.

I felt myself edging towards the cliff. Beware!
I heard myself calling to Mama. I can’t do this!
I saw her hopeful eyes, demanding and confident. I let her down.
I lacked her bravery and my siblings’ courage. Impossible.

I’ll fall and die.

But wait, why had my family not fallen and died? Makes no sense!
A wave of laughter eased my tension. Why where they laughing?
‘Your wings! Dummy!’ my brothers and sisters yelled. Dummy?
‘Just flap your wings, honey.’ came my Mama’s loving chirp. Wings?

I did not understand them.

And I tilted my head to one side, lifting my arms. Arms?
I examined them and giggled. Wings.
These are wings. Flap, flap.
Oh yes, I won’t fall and die after all. Flutter, flutter.

I leap, without fear, because I have wings.