Exculpate (verb): to clear from guilt

Several days ago, the little green bird visited a yellow friend.

Although they shared the same feathers of flight, one flew free while the other was ensnared, hopelessly trapped in a cage of metal. The green bird had a chance to open the cage gate. It knew how, it knew why, but it didn’t.

The depthless guilt that weighed down its wings for the haunting days after sent the little bird on its current journey: to correct a mistake that should’ve never been made.

When the yellow bird came into sight once again, paralyzing relief surged up the green bird’s frame. The same look of emptiness shadowed the caged eyes.

No hesitation! The little green bird dived downwards in a streak of viridescent green. No matter if it was a narrator. No matter if it wasn’t an ordinary bird… or even a bird at all.

It was horrible to abandon someone in need of help.

The cage door clanked open.

Fluttering back, the green bird whipped around, keeping a cautious eye on the human door and-

The little yellow bird didn’t budge.

A half-hearted chirp perked up from its small body. It continued staring.

The green bird was about to hop into the cage itself, when human footsteps sounded in the corridor several lengths away.

No! It couldn’t risk getting caught!

Spreading its wings with unbearable regret, the little narrator escaped into the sky, again leaving its friend behind.

Wait… friend?