The Bird

Mom looked out the window at the bright sun. From where she sat on her front porch couch, the world outside looked cold, the kind of cold that breaks wood and snaps utility wires. Suddenly a bird dropped down, she supposed from the tree that towered over the front of the house, and sat on the outside window sill. She caught eyes with the little, black thing and asked it, "Why am I so lonely?" But the bird flew away after only a few seconds, certainly not enough time to answer.