"Well, it's not perfect, but a trade is a trade."
Crow took the canvas with excitement from me when it waited outside my door.
After last night, all it did was drown its face until it was so bloated on water it couldn't fly.
The lazy thing slept outside my house on the verandah in its own little corner pressed against the wall.
All I could see was a ball of feathers when I went to get my own water and check on it as well.
Now, it was a new day with a new offering.
"Please don't lick this one" I watched Crow study its painted self happily "or eat it."
"Me" Crow crooned at it, hugging it tightly.
Such a human gesture. It really was fascinating me every day at all the little quirks this creature had.
"That's your gift" I reminded it "for the snake, remember? Now, no more, ok?"
Crow peered at me in confusion.
"I, uh..." I grew ashamed of my harshness in trying to do the best for it "....you need to be with your own kind."
I swept an arm to the empty fields. The other crows had been keeping clear of it since the attack. It was only the grass and flowers again.
"I'm not like you."
Crow looked down itself than over at me. With both of us to our height, I could see how it was comparing both of our structures.
"That's not what I mean" I grumbled "you know that. You aren't human. I'm not a bird."
It hugged the canvas against its chest as it noticed my frustration with the situation.
"No more gifts" I bit out "no more trades. You need to go and be a... a.... crow!"
Blowing out my breath, I could feel the anger pickling at my eyes.
"It was fun" I told it still refusing to move "and I got some inspiration out of it all for the first time in forever" I smiled at the canvas it smothered "you can't be ruining everything for a hermit like me."
It was killing me slowly, but it was the right thing to do.
"Please, go" I pointed to the field "before I make a stupid decision and change my mind."
Crow's eyes softened when it saw how much I was struggling.
It walked closer, each nail tapping on the cold stone, until it was right in front of me.
It really was such a magnificent creature up close I could hear each deep breath and smell the warm flowers on its skin. Every deep black feather reacted to the air around it as it just stood there.
"Finn" it crooned as it rubbed its head against mine and snuggled into the crook of my neck.
Why did it have to do that?
Choking back the lump in my throat and digging my nails into my palms so I didn't hug it, the crow moved past me with the canvas still pressed to its chest.
Pausing at the stairs, I saw it look down at it, then to me wiping my eyes.
"Not gift" Crow muttered gently as it placed it down on the stone and stepped back with a tilt of its head.
Then, it left with the last flutter of its wings carrying it higher and further away until it was nothing more.
As much as my heart was breaking at the sight of the painted crow with flowers tangled into its feathers, I smiled at the reminder of such a fond memory it had left me.
If you love something, you have to let it go.
Goodbye, Crow.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
