Time after time

As I was turning into the exit lane for my apartment complex this morning on my way to work, there was a dead bird in the middle of the road. Standing next to it was another bird, probably the mate. I know it sounds crazy, but the living bird looked as resolute and unyielding as a bird possibly could. It didn’t step away from the dead bird’s side, not for me, not for the car behind me, and I’m willing to bet it didn’t move until they picked up the dead bird at some point in the day, and even then I’m sure the mate is still in a tree somewhere, their eyes fixed on that spot. It made me think about how a bird somehow has a sense of loyalty stronger than a human being, to stand by something, even when it’s gone.