I can almost hear its bones cracking- its soft little body under my shoe. A chickadee lays under a bush. After the shock of nearly stepping on a corpse, I had set it down to rest there, guiding it onto a leaf and slowly walking it over. I cannot allow this bird to be hurt. When I laid it on the ground, two ants crawled out of its eye. It’s been weeks and I haven’t seen another sign of life since. I check it daily. I’ve grown attached to the little bird. I want it to return to nature peacefully.