Bumblebee

 I just need to write this to not forget.

Yesterday we spotted a bumblebee stumbling amongst long blades of grass, climbing one, falling down, climbing one, falling down. I thought maybe this miniature panda of the insect world needed a hand so I let it climb my hand and put it on a dandelion in a small unkept field. Most of the flowers looked pretty spent already, this is the best we could do. We squatted there for a long time observing it, poor thing looked exhausted and was just hanging on to the flower for dear life. Not once in this did it try to fly. We left it there.

This morning I went to see, and our little buddy was still there. I pet it to check if it was still alive and it squirmed. I then noticed that many new dandelions had opened up so I forced it on my hand to get to the good stuff. It activated really slowly, but it ate. And then stopped and hung to the flower, not moving.

I made that flower reach for another one, it went on slowly, groggily, and ate. No attempt to fly. Another flower. And another one. My friend's movements became faster now. It was eager for the next one. No more flowers within reach, I gave it a lift to the next patch on my hand.

Already yesterday I grew attached to it. I didn't know if it could fly at all, I didn't know how long I could spend in the field doing that, but I wanted this lil bugger to live. Though I was worried that it was just unable to fly; I mean what would happen then? I can't spend the rest of its days making sure it eats, but can I really not..? I know nature sorts itself out, but this was now my pal. We were in this together.

After 40 or so minutes, over 10 dandelions, as I was about to give it another lift, it took off. It flew to the next flower.

I sat there in the field and started sobbing. My reaction took me by surprise. I was just so glad. Now it's out there bumbling on its own. This tiny creature's reign isn't over yet. Farewell, little one. I love you.