Chapter III
"Take my hand. I'll teach you to dance. I'll spin you around. I won't let you fall down" – He Is We, All About Us
I woke with a start, a quick yawn escaped me and I sat up, stretching both arms and legs ready for the night. I took a bag of chips from my backpack and munched on them quickly as I prepared my coat, gloves, hat and scarf. It was a lot colder in the room, my breath almost visible which only meant it was twice as cold outside. Changing out of my t-shirt into a dark green long sleeve shirt, I threw on the rest of my winter wear, crumpled up the empty chip back, took my backpack and escaped into the nightfall.
Right as I stepped outside my gaze turned to the great moon, but I didn't say a word, nor did he. I sucked in the frosty air as it nipped at my nose and cheek for a moment until I hiked up my scarf. It was snowing lightly, as I let out my hand and caught a couple snowflakes that soon turned into water droplets. I slipped through those iron gates again, as I do every night and walked through the trees admiring the wintery scenery. I scooped up a handful of snow and threw it into the air, I twirled around feeling the snow fall upon me only then to have some hit my face as it fell.
"Ow!" I covered the side of my face where something had landed. "What the-" I didn't recall scooping up ice, I would of felt it from how light the snow was. I looked around, removing my hand from my face, to be following the sound a squeaking right below my feet. There was something small and it was blue…no green? It shivered and tried to get up only to lose its balance and fall again. I kneeled down and carefully watched it. It looked like a bird, really more like a hummingbird but don't all birds fly south for winter?
Trying not to spook it I moved a bit closer but it noticed once my shadow loom over it and it squealed frightened by my appearance. I cupped my hands around the little thing. "Hey, it's okay, it's okay, I'm not gonna hurt you." I told the little bird over and over again as I slightly opened my hands to end up having a staring contest with it. Looking right into its light purple eyes I noticed the frightened expression, and I moved my scarf away to show my face and I smiled. "See, I'm not scary, it's okay."
The little bird adjusted itself and let out another squeal, although this time it sounded like it sneezed.
Do birds sneeze? I thought.
It then shivered and curled up into my hand, but its eyes were still open and it didn't look away from me. It smiled.
Do birds smile?!"
"Let's get you out of this weather." I told the little creature and slipped my hand, still holding on to the bird, into my coat to shield it from the cold as I hurried back to the Planetarium.
I grabbed a small cardboard box and a torn up piece of cloth once we got back and placed the little bird inside. It immediately curled up with the cloth letting out a softer squeak this time. I grabbed a candle and lit it, moving it beside the box for more warmth.
"There that should help." I whispered.
Again, the bird looked up at me with a gleam.
I scratched the back of my head and strands of hair started to fall out of my hat, I took it off and set it aside. "Are you hungry?" I asked as I awkwardly looked around the mess of my room. "I mean, I don't know what it is that your species eat…but…um…" From the corner of my eye the bird didn't break its stare, it slightly tilted its head with a low squeak.
"Okay then, well if you need anything I'll be over here." I got up and pointed over to my corner.
I'm talking to a bird like it's a person! The thought screamed inside my head, and I couldn't help but to run my hand through my hair. "I am loosing it." I mumbled.