The Lost Butterfly

A butterfly flew into my apartment today. It moved with some pace, too. I was at my desk, typing, scrolling, working away on the laptop, and wham! it was fluttering above my head before moving on into the hallway. Both of us were in shock.

The hallway is dark. Its majority is tucked away from sunlight passing through a window. It can be an oppressive space. Especially if you are a creature of a size smaller than a polaroid.

In the hallway, both butterfly and I were scared. It was in a land of edges and solids and darkness. How terrifying for an animal of wings. And I was watching those wings flap at their rapid pace and in full understanding of how little it wanted to be in my home.

But how do you show a butterfly the route to freedom? Well. I tried talking to it. I told it to go that way, no not this way, go that way. It may have helped. I don’t know how well butterflies can interpret humans. I pointed too. I don’t think the pointing helped. I think a giant finger moving in and out and up and around was probably quite terrifying to witness.

It made its way to the window eventually. And then it managed to find the gap and fly away. This solo butterfly made its way towards another place on Earth. Where was the next closest butterfly? I didn’t know. It could’ve been on the other side of town. Actually, I don’t remember the last time I saw a butterfly hanging around concrete and plastic and consumerism. Don’t they love flowers? Perhaps this was a rebellious butterfly. Maybe it was a youngling who was going against its parents’ wishes? Or maybe it didn’t have that attitude. Perhaps it was an explorative bug. It decided, I’m going to fly up high, and see what’s around there. Oh, what’s through that door? I’ll go look. And bam, wrong decision. It’s curiosity took it slightly too far this time.

Brave for a solo flyer. I wonder if it was lonesome. Did it have a family? Hmm, I suppose you usually see butterflies on their own. They’re not like ants. Ants love to be with ants. Perhaps it was looking for love? It definitely didn’t find it today. I hope it does. Maybe we’re more alike to butterflies than we think. Humans and butterflies, searching, bumbling, looking for a companion, searching awkwardly for that other being to fly with us. I do see some butterflies fluttering in duos, spiralling, pirouetting around one another. The sight is blissful actually. It’s a peaceful view. Human love is too.

I’m glad the butterfly escaped. They’re not so bad. Neither are we, sometimes.

I’m turning vegan.

[11.08.2023]