Feathers in the Wind

I stepped out the door ‘fore the sun even hit the tops of the trees. Air crisp, smell of wet grass hittin’ my nose. I ain’t never been the type to just walk, but today my legs needed it. Needed the stretch, needed the quiet. Birds hollered somewhere far up, wings slicing the morning like they owned it.

I seen a hawk first. High up, circlin’ lazy, talons tucked. Freedom look like that. Ain’t tied down. Ain’t worried about bills or past mistakes. Just movin’, steady, wings wide. I whispered under my breath, “Teach me how to do that.”

Down by the creek, a heron dipped its head in the water. Steady. Patient. Waitin’ for its meal. I laughed. That’s motivation right there. Ain’t no rush, but you still gotta show up. Even the river know that. Water keep movin’, but it don’t never push itself too hard. Nature steady, patient. That’s what I tryna be.

I kicked a stone, watchin’ it skip. Felt like the world was tryin’ to tell me somethin’. Some days, freedom ain’t runnin’ away. Some days, it’s standin’ still and watchin’ the life around you. Acceptin’ that you can’t control everything. Acceptin’ that your past don’t gotta decide your future.

A squirrel darted across the path, tail twitchin’. It froze, lookin’ at me like it measure if I a threat. I stayed still. Didn’t move a muscle. Then it ran on, disappearin’ into the oak. That’s life. Threats come. You survive. You move.

By the time I turned home, sweat on my forehead, lungs heavy but clean, I felt different. Lighter. Not fixed. Not perfect. But ready to step back in, handle what I got ahead. Hawk, heron, squirrel—they didn’t know me, but they reminded me: move steady, keep watch, take your shot, and let the wind carry the rest.

I sat on my porch, hands on my knees, chest hittin’ steady, and smiled. Freedom look different every day. Today, it was birds, wind, and me just tryna keep up.