Returning home from the office at the end of the day is a mixture of relief and unease. The transition from focusing on work-related tasks to those at home can be quite a mental shift. Stepping into my apartment, I immediately noticed the stuffiness in the air. It made me realize that our pet parakeet, Rose, had been cooped up inside all day. I often placed her outside on the balcony in her cage when the weather was nice, so I decided to do that again.
As I started to think about my evening tasks, including tidying up and preparing dinner for my daughter and myself, I felt the weight of work evenings. These evenings are a different kind of challenge. They involve a constant juggling act between responsibilities at the office and those at home.
About an hour into my household chores, I saw a flash of white out of the corner of my eye. Turning to look, I saw Rose flying out of her cage and away from the balcony. I was frozen, as usual in emergency or unexpected situations. It took me a few moments to comprehend that my daughter's beloved pet had flown away, and I was responsible. A sense of guilt washed over me, knowing that it was going to be a cold night, and Rose might not survive or find her way back.
When I picked up my daughter from afterschool, I had to break the news that Rose had flown away. She was in shock and burst into tears, and my heart ached seeing her in pain. We spent the evening discussing why Rose might have flown away and how she managed to escape. We even called Animal Patrol for assistance, and they reassured us they would search for Rose all night. I offered to get a new bird, but my daughter insisted on waiting for Rose to return.
I run upstairs to call my ex as we were going to meet at a pet shop to think about a replacement and he comes back helping to capture Rose. He climbed a tree, climbed the concrete wall, walked through thorn’s to flush out Rose out of the area. Finally she flew back into the area where we can see her. She was just hopping along having a good old time. Yet she would fly high when we would try to catch her. I brought out her cage and jungled her toys. Finally I took out her food in the container and she must have been hungry because she hopped right to it. After a try he finally got her and we threw her on the cage jumping up and down so happy for our daughter. A bitter sweet moment for me.
This day my daughter got off the bus and there we were both parents holding her bird for her. I saw the biggest smile as he asked how we caught her. Still that night from home my daughter and I called Animal Patrol to tell them Rose was caught and to thank them for looking for her all night. We were so happy, I think I was happier and relieved than I have been in the last few years I have had. It was a good feeling I am still taking in. The stress from it is still there but I am working to move away from it. It was a good lesson for me to see that what I think is a lost cause may not be, miracles happen so let them come my way and happen for my family and me.
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