Skies and Waters

"Have you ever flown?"
A bird once asked a fish.

"No." The little fish replied.
"Have you ever touched
the waters and swam?"
The little fish asked afterwards.

"No, I haven't"

The little bird who has
always flown and soared
the skies but whose feathers
never touched the waters;
and the little fish who has
always ventured the waters
but was left only staring
up at the sky were quiet after that.

"Would you like to feel the sea?"
The little fish asked.

"Yes, I'd like to. ---Would you also
like to touch the sky?"
The little bird also offered.

"Yes. Thank you."

So, one day the little bird
took the little fish out
of the water and took
the little fish aflight
up to the sky.
But haven't gotten too far
from the surface, the little fish
started choking. So, the little bird
brought the little fish back to the water.

"I'm sorry", said the little fish.
"It seems I cannot come
with you to the sky and fly."

"Do not worry, I could always
still come here to you."
Responded the little bird.

And one other day,
it was the little bird
whose turn came to see
and feel the waters.
The little fish guided
the little bird down
to the sea but not even
reaching a meter down,
the little bird began
struggling with his wings.
So, the little fish swam fast
to reach the surface with the little bird.

"Forgive me. Seems like I cannot go
with you down there." Said the little bird.

"No need to apologize."

"Seems like you alone
are meant to swim the oceans."
Said the little bird sadly.

"And seems like you alone
are meant to soar through the skies."
Continued the little fish
with just as much sadness
as the little bird.

"I cannot come with you
and swim the seven seas..."

"And I cannot come with you,
either, and see all sorts of skies..."

"But we can still meet here in the middle."
Suggested the little fish.

"Yes, I'd love that too."

The little bird and the little fish,
with two very different worlds
between them, created very uniquely
from the other, have two hearts
beating with the same song.

And so, even when one cannot join
the other in a different place,
they continue to grow and love one another.

One must let the other be where
it should be and there grow in its own beauty.
For only in true love can there
be true and utter freedom.

Love does not promise togetherness
all the time or requited affections...
but in love there is always the promise
of tomorrow that continues on...
One can go on loving another
even without the other's
physical presence or same feelings...

Some may only understand
what this story tells
when that someone has
already felt such love.