A Symbol of Hope

Heba reached his house, but before he could walk inside he placed the fruit basket down as his arms got tired. He then panted a little from the journey as his family was a ways away from the others, and they're house was near the woods mostly. Heba then was about to pick it up again when he heard his name being called and giggles approaching him.

"Heba! Heba!"

"Hey Heba! Over here. Ha-ha."

"Hey! It's Heba yay!"

A group of little kids came rushing towards him, two girls and a little boy as they smiled seeing him. Heba then smiled back seeing his friends or his fans they liked to call themselves. They usually knew Heba came home around this time, so they played around this area awaiting for his arrival. Heba then bent down and rub the little boys hair, cutely and hug the two girls as they hug him back.

"Hello little ones. I see you guys were waiting for me again. Haha." Heba said chuckling somewhat.

" of course!" One of the little girls said.

"Your our friend and we love hearing you sing! Can you come by the river and sing for us again. We need to get some water anyways!" The little boy told Heba.

Heba then glanced at his house and the shrug in his mind about something. 'I don't think my mother and father will mind if I help these kids out. I think they'll be fine about me being a little bit late.' He ponder to himself. He then smiled at them as he then took a nod towards them as the kids gasp and got excited. The two little girls then grab Heba's hands an entwines their fingers with his, as he did the same and got pulled by them both.

"Hey! Okay okay, haha I'm coming." Heba said joyfully. They all walked to the river as the little boy grab the two buckets he was suppose to fill with water for his family. His sisters they prance around Heba as they told him to sing repeatedly as Heba felt flattered, cheeks turning into a flush state and he glanced at the sky and the horizon in front of him. He then slowly parted his lips, and sing a song that they loved to hear him sing.

"I've been staring at the edge of the palace long as I can remember, never really knowing why...

I wish, I could be the prefect son, but I come back to the palace, no matter how hard I try...

Every turn I take, every trail I track, every path I make, every road leads back to the place I know where I can I go where I long.. to .. be.

See the light where the sky meets the peak!? It calls me!

But no one knows ... how far it goes!

If the wind in my hair flows free and stays behind me...

Then one day I'll know...

If I go to the palace there's just no telling how far I'll go!

They continued to walk down to the river bank, as they were jumping on logs and dancing a little as Heba continued to sing. They then hummed a little, as they heard they're song being sung by him, and ran alittle to the river as Heba followed them closely.

I know everybody in this village seems to miserable in this village... everything is handcrafted...

I know, everybody — in this village has a role in this village so maybe I can roll with mine.

I can help my friends, I can be really strong, I'll be satisfied if I play along, but the voice inside sings a different song what is wrong with me!?"

See the light where the sky meets the peak!? It blinding!

But no one knows ... how far it goes!

And it seems like it's calling out to me so come find me!

And one day I'll know... what's beyond the desert will I cross that desert!

See the light where the sky meets the peak!?

It calls me!

But no one knows... how far it goes!

If the wind in my hair flows free and stays behind me...

Then one day I'll know... how far I'll go!"

Heba had stood tall on an edge of the tree holding the branch as the wind howled around him, seeing the palace from a far, as he sung the last verse and finished singing. The kids watched him in amazement as they never see someone so passionate and have such a beautiful tone voice singing with compassion and feelings. They then clapped at the end of it, as Heba was too far deep in his feelings now to really see they were. They continued clapping and exclaimed his name loudly with a happy feeling.

"Yay! Heba!"

"Yeah that was amazing!"

"Haha, Yay! Yay! Yay!"

They all shouted hearing him finish as Heba blinked and then turned his head looking at the kids below as he giggled nervously.

"O—oh. S—sorry I guess I got carried away. Thank you thank you. Hehe." Heba said climbing down from the tree and grabbing a bucket for them. They then shook they're heads and told Heba they he didn't need to apologize he was great and should sing at Mr. Siloam's shop.

"Oh no no no I can't. I'm to afraid too, besides, I have to help my family out."

"Awww" the three of them said together.

"Aww well okay Heba! Thanks for helping!"

"Yeah you rock!" The little boy said happily taking the buckets and running off.

"Bye bye Heba!"

The three of them ran off back to the village as they were heading home, as Heba waved them off. He then softly stood there feeling his feet in the grass and then the sands around it. He couldn't help but close his eyes allowing his lungs to be filled with air, as he then coughed afterwards. It felt hot more than usual, and turning his attention back to the palace his eyes grew with sadness. Feeling like this entire lifetime he shall never have the dream he wished to have. His hopes would soon be shattered by working, and working endlessly and probably die like the others with the plague.

Heba, then started to walk back to his house, this time forreal, and then manage to get there without interruptions. He grab the fruit basket he was suppose to bring with him and smiled anyways thinking about the compliments he's received today. 'People keep telling me to sing... I guess I must be really good.' Heba thought. He then looked over at a bird that landed on his shoulder, as his eyes shimmered. He froze for a moment never seeing a bird like this, being all white and having beautiful wings. It then slowly got from his shoulders, as Heba put the basket down once more and followed it.

The bird flew around happily and in circles around Heba as Heba giggled cutely at it. "Hehe, where did you come from?" He asked it. The bird chirp softly and then started to fly higher in the sky, as Heba watched it as the wind hit his skin and hair. His eyes went surprised when he saw the feet of the bird had some ancient jewelry on its ankle. Along with a symbol that meant the palace, he almost fell down as his heart beat faster, as the bird came down again and landed on a brand. Heba then watched it as he got closer to it, and extend his arm out in fear somewhat.

"A—are— you, a—a royals bird?" Heba said softly to himself unable to blink at this moment. He couldn't very well believe a royal bird came all this way out here. He wanted to touch the bird so badly, but then collapsed on the ground hard as the branch broke.

"Ah!" He screamed, as he fell on his behind, and rub his head. The bird then got up and started to fly away in the direction of the palace again. Heba's parents came rushing outside hearing their sons cry.

"Heba!" His mother proclaimed.

"Heba are you okay?" His father came outside as well on the porch.

"A—-a royal's bird..." Heba said softly to himself once more, as his mother rushed to him and hug him gently. Heba hug her back but still looking in the distance seeing the bird get further and further away from him. He was dazzled and stun by what he discovered and for once in his life, he felt warm and hopefully once more.