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My son and his bird, a mental health story.

Drew Nacht

The darkness was as bright as a Christmas tree
but now, finally, he was putting his heart into it-
swinging his upper body wildly back and forth
trying desperately to loosen the straightjacket which jailed him
without due process for so many adolescent years
that he could barely remember what life was like
before the damn thing was strapped on.
The furious tousling to and fro finally exhausted him
and he fell to his knees
with tears of frustration streaming down his cheeks
and then it happened-
not something he wished for or even prayed for
because he always wanted to free himself
but that something that can save a life-
seemingly out of nowhere a rescue bird
swooped down from behind him,
dislodging the chokehold of the oppressive straight jacket
and he was free to look behind him
and boast and marvel at his good fortune
while the bird, this mysterious, all knowing bird,
this miraculous bird of many colors
shot him a knowing glance and flew out of sight, so fast, so fast.
Used to the darkness, he closed his eyes
before greedily reaching out for the light,
grabbing it by the throat and swallowing it whole.
The energy behind that grabbing of the light
came from such a deprived place of yearning
that he was shocked at how quickly the moment passed.
Once lit up with the light
he was of course, free to go-
to move forward into a new space.
At first his outlook was cautious
but then he decided to imitate the bird savior
and spread his arms out, as if to fly.
Sure enough, his body began floating upward, toward the heavens,
led by a smile that lit up every inch of the sky

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