The crow that stayed One evening, I noticed a crow sitting quietly on the backyard wall. Since morning, many crows had been cawing, but it hadn’t bothered me—it felt like the usual rhythm of the day. But this was different. In the evening hush, one crow sat alone, still and untouched, as if wrapped in its own silence. Maybe it had been left out. Maybe it felt lonely. I thought it was resting and would fly away soon. I kept checking, again and again, but it stayed—silent, unmoving. No other crows nearby. No sound. No one to ask what had happened. Its head was lowered, as if listening to something inside itself. Maybe it was sad. Maybe it was tired. Or maybe, in a world full of noise, it felt unheard. Perhaps no one cared to listen to its quiet grief. Or maybe it was nearing the end of its life and simply wanted some peace. Heaven knows what was in its mind. The crow didn’t fly away. It stayed on the wall as the sky darkened and a...
Do You Know How Important It Is to Be Present? While growing up, no one was present for my school events or activities. I always cried for that presence. Even when people were physically there, I was often asked, “Why do you participate? I can’t take leave.” Slowly, I stopped participating in everything. I became the kid who never expected anyone to show up. Being present is the bare minimum, yet somehow it has become a luxury. I used to watch other families holding their children, appreciating them, cheering for them. I would just smirk and tell myself, “It’s okay. It’s nothing.” But deep inside, a small part of me always wondered what it would feel like to look into the crowd and see someone there just for me. It’s not that I hate my people. Maybe everyone had their own reasons, their own responsibilities. Perhaps someone needed them more than I did. So it doesn’t matter anymore. It’s just the past. Recently, something happened that made me think about all of...