In the iron cage that divided the two sides, the male swallow was restless. Looking over at his pretty “neighbor” on the other side, he mustered up the courage to fly close to the railing:
“My muse, fate has brought us together in this cage, why won’t you let me step over there to protect you?”
She replied curtly: “No way!”
He retreated to his corner. But the warmth of love (or perhaps stubbornness) prevented him from sitting still for more than five minutes. He crept over again, this time lowering his voice sincerely:
“I’m sorry for being so pushy earlier. How about we be friends first? Give me a chance to understand your soul better?”
She remained cold: “No need!”
Deeply disappointed, the male swallow dejectedly preened his feathers, intending to give up completely. But then his “shameless” instinct kicked in, and he flew to the boundary line between the cages, whispering:
“Okay… no love, no getting to know each other is fine. But at least we can talk a little to ease the loneliness, right?”
At this point, the female bird slowly turned around, her eyes filled with remorse and pity:
“Oh, I was so mean to you just now. Please don’t be angry… Actually, it’s not that I’m being arrogant, but I just got back from the doctor and found out I have ‘Chirpies’… The doctor said this disease makes it impossible to ‘tweet’ anymore (untweetable).”
