Elephants.

There is a little girl who read about the elephants; about their minds, their emotions, and their loyalty. She knew she wanted to speak with an elephant to find out their secrets and how they could endure all they do. She wanted to learn how to be like them - majestic, humble, loving, intelligent, strong, gentle, and certain in everything they do. Even as the years passed without meeting one, she still wanted a conversation with an elephant.

She couldn't make the years slow down and couldn't remember last conversations. She was overwhelmed with the people who reacted with their palettes of colours and proved that one can never forgive nor forget. It was tiring having to always be strong and when she couldn't do it anymore, she found out how ugliness is an easier option. Lashing out was a reaction she anticipated but hoped it would never triumph. Comfort was a challenge as her heart bled. So she went away alone and the days blurred into months, into years.

Turn of this year, everything fell into place. Everything that seemed impossible came true. It felt like the wait was over and a gentle hand was aligning all the pieces into place perfectly. Along the way, she met and grew with pawns, knights, queens, and kings who led her to the next chapter. The little girl was exhausted but she kept believing. It is who she is.

She found many bright stars in the brokenness that she encountered and it came together to bring her light when she fell into a dizzying spiral of artifice. It broke the box that was kept aside, spilling out the broken shards. It was a broken warrior inside a jewelled star that reminded her about the elephants, who gave her hope. She allowed the shards to merge with her shadow and finally found that it kept her safe, it stopped the bleeding.

One day, the warrior disappeared. She knew when he started to fade but waited to be wrong. The stars waited with her until it was time for the little girl to fill the emptied box with the joy and elephants the warrior brought her. She knew that even the brightest stars would fade one day. No matter how much she loved them, she could only protect them but could not save them.

So the little girl continued walking as she reached the 28th, knowing that there will be pain around the corner. But she had her stars and the box with her. And there are other stars ahead and maybe, she would meet an elephant.

Happy birthday, little girl.