• There were 12 metal bars. All painted gold. And as cages go this one had a copper bottom. It was larger then a cage to hold a bird. It was larger then something to hold a dog. It held me.
    I swung my legs between the sturdy heavy bars and whistled, 'Bye Bye Blackbird.' I studied a stain on the tip of my shoe, curious to it's origins. The basement door opened and then slammed shut. Sneakers padded down the basement steps, and stopped in front of the gold cage.
    "Good morning Bluebird."
    The old voice, lilted with an irish accent, spoke to me, and I nodded dispondently.
    My name is Erin, nicknamed Bluebird. Aged 16 years old. I am human, yet my home is a cage.

    ____-____-____-_____

    I don't remember anymore. I just don't remember. My parents, my old home, my friends, my boyfriend. Nothing. It's all grey when I close my eyes. The old plate of food is taken out. A new one replaced with breakfast for the morning.
    Scrambled eggs and bacon with nothing to drink yet.
    The old man took his cane, slipped it through the bars and poked me.
    "Breakfast. Eat."
    As if I didn't know. I picked up the plate and started eating with my disgustingly unclean hands. My hair was getting greasy. He wouldn't like it. Or maybe He wouldn't care.
    I finished up the bacon, then rotated my plate to get to the eggs. I wolfed them down. I wiped my mouth and did a mimicry of a crow. I don't know why, I just did.
    The old man and lady then came down the steps. I knew because the lady wore highheeled shoes always. The man always wore some sort of sneakers. The two lawnchairs were placed in front of the cage. The old man's limp was getting worse. The lady sat down first, while the man prodded me with his cane.
    "Sing."
    I cleared my throat. I had no songs planned, so I let the first song to pop in to my mind, let out through song. I'd heard this one on the radio the old people left down in the basement for me.

    It was 'Amazing Grace', the the old man didn't like it. He hit my knees with his cane. I started then on 'Oh Susanna'. He approved then.

    I sang the last notes, and finished the song. The old man and woman clapped, but they'd never let me go. They were happy when I sang. They left after I sang two more songs and then I was left to wallow in my cage.

    This is my life. Forever a caged bird. To fly I needed a miracle.