She found him as a little cub, shivering under the
doorsteps. He was a long way from home, unknown to her where his mama could be.
So she took him in, and they curled up by the fire while he purred on her
chest. In the mornings he’d eagerly lap up a whole carton of milk, in the
afternoons they’d have a snooze in the sunny spot under the tree. At night he’d
curl up at her toes, keeping them warm.
He grew up big and strong, finishing off a dozen chickens if
you’d let him. He was as frisky as a kitten, and the furniture was never in
good shape. He cleaned his mane no less than 16 times a day. His coat gleamed
in the sun, and the old tree could barely shade his magnificent body. She would
run to the door every time she got home from school, knowing that he’d be
there, playfully pouncing on her. She was twice her size now. Full grown, but
adolescent still.
One night she looked at him, almost dropping off the bed’s
end, and she knew. She knew that the dreaded day had come. She touched her jaw,
where the deep scar ran, from the time he was hungry and she was a bit slow
getting the chicken. It was just an accident; he had never meant to hurt her.
He never meant to break all the chairs; he just wanted to know what it was like
to sit in one. He had never meant to send all the other kids home screaming; he
just wanted to come and say hello.
So the very next morning, she took him on a long drive. The
reserve was many miles away, but she knew she just had to make the drive. Drive
she did, and as strong as she had promised herself she’d be, she knew the tears
couldn’t be stopped. He’s happy with me she
tried to console herself. He’s known no
other happiness other than with me. This time a tear escapes and runs down
her cheek. He lifts up his giant head, he hears her muffled sniffle. He always
loved rides, but this time it felt different. He didn’t feel happy somehow,
like he knew something bad was to come.
She eventually reached the reserve gates, daylight almost
gone. She met with a park ranger, who told her she was doing the right thing.
As much as they loved each other, he belonged in the wild. Keeping him would be
selfish, even if it did hurt the both of them. She had served him well in his
years of need, and now was the time to let go.
Go now, you’re free. He
didn’t budge. The vast open lands of the reserve were much cooler in the night.
The ranger said it was the best time of the year to set him free. The weather
wouldn’t be too harsh for him to adapt, and there were plentiful gazelles for
him to hunt. He had put a tracker on him, so he’d keep an eye out, but she had
done all that she could. Now was the time to let her go.
She painfully pushed him forward. Don’t you understand? Go! Be free. Be happy in this great land where you
belong with other lions for you to play with and for you to start your own
family. He didn’t budge. He stood strong, eyes unblinking. He seemed to
understand what she meant but he stayed fast in his spot. He let out a little
whimper, the kind he kept special when he wanted the extra piece of chicken.
She broke down. He cuddled near her. Why
are you making this so hard? It’s for your own good. Go! He placed his
giant paw on top of her head. She took a deep breath and stood up again. She
dried her eyes, she looked into his eyes.
She taught him how to play the piano, or knock on a piano at
the very least. He taught her the value of being honest, for he always knew
when she was telling a lie. She taught him how to used the toilet, until one
day the toilet broke under his immense weight. He taught her the value of hugs,
especially when you don’t think you need one. She taught him how to eat ice
cream, and remembered how scared she was when he fell sick.
They loved each other; and as the park ranger’s eyes bore
witness to such great love, he too knew that it had to end. She was working
three jobs just to support his food supplies. He was risking a shorter life by living
in such limited bounds.
Then came the bitter part. She picked up a rock. Her hand
trembled as she held it, but she knew she had to. She gave him one big heave. “Go!
I hate you! I don’t want you to come back with me! I hate you!” she screamed.
Her voice was weak, and the tears were pouring down. He looked up in surprise.
She picked up another and struck him again. “Go!” she yelled. This time a little
louder. A little stronger. “I never want to see you again!” His eyes widened,
and pain ran across his face. He backed up a little. She picked up another
rock. Then another, then another. And with each, he drew back just a little.
She was careful not to strike him in the same place twice. She prayed that she
didn’t hurt him too much, but she needed him to go. Start his own life, maybe
his own pride. They both needed to move on. And as much as their love bound
them together all these years, it was not a love that was meant to last. She
took one last rock and threw it. “I hate you! Go away! I never want to see you
again!” He started to run towards the trees. He turned back, just to look at
her face just to be sure that this
was the same person who stayed up all night with him telling him about zebras
and monkeys, this was the person who sat up late at night worried when he had
that tummy ache after eating the bad frozen milky stuff. It was. But it wasn’t
her. This was a cruel, unloving version of her. His heart bled, his body hurt,
and he ran. He ran, and he ran, and he ran. He flew through the woods, panting
and gasping for air…….
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