1 CHAPTER 1: CAGED BIRD

Looking at the lovely night sky

Wondering why it was so high

Want to reach it but who am I?

I'm just a bird that can not fly.

It was spring, the sun was light and warm, the green grass was waving with the strong wind. I run throughout the field and savor the rich fresh air. It was refreshing. I lie down on the fluffy grass and put my hands on my nape. The vigorous wind passes through me and It feels so nice…Too nice to be exact... I saw my family sitting beside me and together we enjoyed the nice sunny weather that we had. Birds chirped beautifully, the sound of rustling trees blown by the wind was ravishing. I close my eyes and relax to the sound of my surroundings.

It was a freezing day just like the other days. I heard a beep sound and I opened my eyes and saw the familiar white ceiling. I felt something uncomfortable in my mouth. I noticed it was just the mask for oxygen. I heard the door opened and it was the nurse who entered. She was friendly to me and sometimes checked me if something was wrong with me. She walks toward me and asks.

"How are you feeling?" she said.

"I'm a little dizzy but I'm okay now." And I smiled at her.

"The doctor will come later and check you up and by the way has your family visited you this week? It's already New Year's Eve and it's getting cold."

"Nope, they're busy with their work, they say they can't go but they will visit me next month."

I saw her sigh and took the IV away and replaced it with something new and said goodbye. As she closes the door, I hear another nurse talk to her.

"Have her parents visited her? I only see the maid who only visits once a week! What about her family?"

"Poor child she was just 10 when she was admitted here. Ever since she was in and out of the hospital her family visits her less and less."

And they walk it off. I don't mind what they are saying and my family was just busy with their business. We are upper but in the lower section of being rich and middle class so there are no worries about money. Father was busy managing the company, Mother was busy with her friends and my brother was busy studying. I don't mind that and truly I'm thankful for them that I'm still alive. I really can't believe that I reached this age. I thought that I would not last long but here I am. I looked out the window and saw the snow falling from the sky. It would be nice to go outside and play with the snow and I smile a little.

I still fantasize about going out of this life and be free from all the pain and be able to study, play, have friends, and love. But life is not what you always expect. Life is like a track and field. There are challenges to do and sometimes you fall and you learn, sometimes you sprint, sometimes you jog and sometimes you win. I snapped back up into reality and saw a person who was on a black cloak and a weird-looking, mask. I turned around thinking it was my brother who was about to prank me but no…

It was somebody else...someone I'm not familiar with. A sudden urge of shuddering on my spine as I began to tremble for unknown reasons and felt like someone was choking me. I gasped for air but to no avail, my whole body was really heavy, I tried to lean back on the bed of comfort and thought to myself, am I going to die in front of a stranger? I look at the men on the black cloak with anguish.

"I come forth to you. Your time has come to an end. I'm -----I will allow you to grant one wish before you perish however your wish should not validate the law of the living and the death."

I feel goosebumps on my body as his words shivered throughout my spine. The voice was clear and calm, gentleness but no emotion, it feels like he has already done this before.

My body continued to shiver even more when he took a step in front of me. He waved his right hand above my head throughout my feet and the affliction vanished immediately.

I was shocked by the sudden relief of pain. Tears fall off my eyes as I imagine walking towards my family, embracing them like there is no tomorrow but.

A sudden snap collapses my whole dream. He repeats the word he said earlier. Same tone. Same voice.

As I continued to process his speech, I didn't notice his name… why I can't hear it. I asked him again to repeat what he said and still… can't remember his name.

Oh well, that ain't well I guess… I want to ask him again but looking at him, he wasn't the type to answer. My mind starts to wonder about his next line…

One wish…

Is this for real?

"I want to have a long life!"

I want to go to other places and help my family and-

"Your wish should not grant your life nor the life of death or cause death to others. What fate gives you, that's your destiny."

I was stunned. That slapped me again to reality… I told you it was impossible. I said to myself. After a long thought, I looked at him and smiled sadly.

"I want, I want my family to have a healthy life…"

I thoughtfully looked at my hands and cried. Tears fell out of my eyes like waterfalls. I haven't cried like this in ages. When I'm in pain from the illness I always hide my tears even from myself not showing any kind of weakness. That's what I thought but now I'm satisfied. After a long cry, I felt relieved even though I'm about to die. I feel...satisfied.

"Your desire will be fulfilled now it is time for you to go."

Now I feel like the pain and the sadness are lifting away from me…

I'm free...

After this incident, a team of nurses and doctors rushed into the room. It was later explained that the nurse put the wrong IV on the patient and Immediately called the doctors. As they entered the room they saw her. Lying peacefully on the bed with her hands on her stomach. The doctor looked at her heartbeat but to no avail. They tried pumping her heart but nothing happened. After a long time saving her no longer matters and they announced her dead. They called the family and a funeral was set.

Subsequently, the family already moved on like nothing had happened. As for her wish, they already predicted it. Long before a year after her third admission to the hospital, her mother's friend recommended her mother to go to a fortune-teller. The fortune-teller then said that her child should die in a natural way. If they (family) intervene in her death they will suffer a great misfortune. If not they will live a healthy life. Her mother called her father about this matter but the father did not believe this and her brother.

When they visited her she was in a coma at that time and the doctor said don't let her suffer any longer and asked the family if they should remove the machine. When the father decided that they will not let her suffer any longer the mother interrupted and said again about the fortune teller. They argued for a while then the father had a sudden phone call saying a big loss was about to happen but did not continue. And thus they believe what the fortune teller said.

While the nurse who was responsible for the dead was sent to the court. The family no longer decided to punish her and thus were sent to be free. And they all live happily ever after.

May This Lovely Person Rest In Peace

ELAINE XXXXXX

(19XX-20XX)