You Only Live Once.
This is a statement that you might commonly hear everywhere. This cliché Has been used repeatedly that it has lost its real meaning. Well, based on my observations. Youngsters tend to do things which maybe dangerous, or overly pleasure-giving, and say YOLO! afterwards, as if what they did can really make life worth living.
Just today, I realized how fragile life is. How important it is to be cherished and to be enjoyed the right way. Let me tell you the story of Chicky (as named by my sister).
Day 1. May 9, 2015. Saturday
It was the start of the strong winds and rains Dodong has unleashed in our province. For an hour or two, torrential winds really blew up everything to our house - dust, dirt, garbage. As I was planning to go outside and meet friends, I waited for the rain to stop.
It stopped after two hours, and then left our house. As I came back, I heard it. This chick peeping, maybe asking for her mother. I saw it, still wet from the rains, in a box, with a flashlight focused on it, one foot still not working, one eye still closed. It just lay still, probably looking for its mother.
I asked my mom where they got Chicky. She said they saw it in our backyard after the rains. (Well, we do have a wall before our backyard, and it stands 6 feet. So Chicky really flew its way across - or better yet, was carried by the strong winds.)
I took Chicky in my hands, put some gentle pressure over it with both hands, to simulate a hen's way to keep her chicks warm. For a second, it stopped peeping, and felt it sleep.
Still looking for a heat source (we don't have a lamp), I tried improvising. I took our WiFi router, put some foil over it, and then put the router on a box. I placed Chicky, still immobile, over the router. It continued sleeping.
Well, I just prayed that Chicky will make it through the cold night.
Day 2, May 10, 2015, Sunday
As I went out of our room, I saw Chicky's box empty. As I rushed to the box, I heard some peeping. Chicky is on the floor! And she's able to walk and the other eye was open! I took Chicky on both hands, and thanked God for the blessing. And then, I put Chicky on her box.
We are set to go to our grandparents' house to celebrate Mother's Day. I can't bring Chicky along. The air conditioning might cause hypothermia. What I did is, I put the box below the table where it's at, took some water and cooked rice (the best I can give), and left the box open for ventilation. Took off.
Now as we arrived, I noticed that our grandparents are currently taking care of a hen! So sad we didn't bring Chicky along. I was looking for surrogates, since I really have no idea where it came from in our street.
Came home, and looking for a sign of Chicky. Yes, that peeping is still present! Again, prepared its pseudo-coop, and resigned for the night,
Day 3, May 11, 2015, MondayWell Chicky is a strong chick. I was able to hear the peeping while still in my room. She's in her lair, unlike yesterday. Took her some food, water. And was ready for the day. My sister took her outside - saying that she needs the warmth. Took her out, then put her in shade after an hour or two of exposure. She shows promise to survive until I look for surrogates.
I tried looking for other houses which have hens, but still, negative. I really wonder where Chicky came from.
The night of Monday, Chicky has a weaker-than-normal peeping. I thought she was just tired for peeping the whole day. Hell, who wouldn't? I set up her lair again, and put her on top of the router. She moved, but the peeping is the main concern. It was weaker.
An hour later, the peeping stopped. My brother told me that Chicky stopped peeping, and was immobile. I immediately ran to her box and looked, her eyes closed, immobile, but still, breathing spontaneously. "She's sleeping.", I told myself.
I never thought it would be her last day.
Day 4, May 12, 2015, Tuesday
No peeping. No signs of Chicky. I saw her on her lair, immobile, and not breathing. I took her with my hands, and saw that she laid still, one eye open (possibly because of her position), with what I think is saliva dripping out of her beak.
Chicky has died.
Filled with sadness, I took Chicky to our backyard, our first encounter with her, dug a hole, and told Chicky that I am sorry for being a bad steward. I buried Chicky with a promise to be a better one to other animals.
LIFE may seem easy, as we can do everything with it, as well as our bodies, as we can do as we please. Little do we know that this life that we take for granted is a highly fragile one, and once the damage was made, there's no turning back. It's our choice if it will pass and be remembered, or be put into misery.
Once life is already lost, we cannot say sorry to the Lord, the only life giver, for being a bad steward for our bodies and lives. A life is a gift from God, and what we must do with it is something that will make God proud of.
Rest in peace, Chicky.
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