A blue bird flies past the window humming a cheerful tune

It’s tune repeats as it flies over the dead flower that hadn’t received rain in months

The blue bird then flies away almost as if it was disgusted by the lack of liveliness that filled what should be a beautiful spring day 

I observe the bird carefully wondering what it would be like to be free.

No worries, migrating from place to place.

Comparing and contrasting all the people and places from a unique perspective.

Oh how I wish I was a bird.

I turn around to realize the whole class is staring deeply into my soul.

I shutter and twitch in my seat like a bird on the verge of death, dazed and confused.

I look ahead trying to convince myself I’m just paranoid and egotistical but my presentation lies ahead on the board.

Shuttering, I reluctantly get up from my seat and remain stagnant just looking around for what feels like forever. 

My chest starts to feel tight as I slowly walk up to the room.

I take a deep breath and try not to fixate on the noises behind me.

Blocking out the taping of the red pen from the quiet girl in the back or the deep breathing of the boy in the front row to my left.

Or the obnoxiously loud yawning from the brown haired boy in the third row who’s fighting the urge to feel asleep.

Oh how I wish I was a bird.

I look at the words and try to speak.

Yet nothing comes out.

The eyes of my peers and the judgment I know I will face stop me.

I shut my eyes just imagining the blue bird which had flown before me.

It takes a few seconds but The first word finally comes out.

I go line by line reading the words I had previously confined myself too.

With no room for error I swallow and do the assignment to the expectation of my teacher.

Oh how I wish I was a bird.