A tale of a Little Blue
It was an August summer evening in 2014 when my sister gave birth to the first grandchild in the family, with great joy and gratitude the many of us welcomed Lilya to the world. Little did we know how life will turn around for all of us.
Year after year, birthday after birthday, I kept missing them, fewer we became as the years passed by, nevertheless living in today’s technology kept us close. Until I finally made it in 2019 to join her fifth birthday as my summer vacation extended to four months. Me and my sister went all around the old town of Damascus, looking to fulfil Lilya’s wishes with a rainbow coloured unicorn topping her cake, lots of glitter, gifts for the kids, balloons coloured with her favourite colour-blue.
Like any child, the birthday wish list was long, out of which a little blue bird came to top this list and land on my wallet as my gift to her. With great joy, the few of us welcomed Little Blue to our family. Little did we know how short his stay will be.
Travelling back to the north where my new shallow roots found a warm home, I kept counting the days until my return and wonder why am I to experience the cold winter as I never did in the arctic circle.
Arriving there to warm my heart with Little Blue’s charming character, his joy in standing with one leg on my finger and the other leg on the side of the cage, persistently biting sometimes, and other times enjoying a finger massage. Little did I know those moments won’t last long.
On a cold morning in January, we left. I took a taxi to Beirut and they took a taxi to the airport. Little did we know it was the last time we see Little Blue, and that we will lock the door for last time, together.
Little Blue moved to stay with my cousin, who introduced him to a Little Green, and together they spent some months waiting for mom’s expected return from Dubai. Then COVID-19 happened and mom was locked in Dubai while my sister and Lilya spent the time staying with dad and his family, with no sign of Little Blue reuniting with Lilya again.
On an early morning of another hot August, shortly after her warm and light sixth birthday celebration, Lilya and my sister left to Germany to reunite with her dad, leaving Little Blue behind, living at the neighbours’. Shortly after their departure mom informed the neighbour of my sister’s and Lilya’s migration. Mom wished she would accept Little Blue as a gift from her and hold good memories of us, their neighbours.
