***
As if attempting to diffuse the emotionally charged situation Fawn mused, “Mae Liza says that life constantly changes a person. Every day it’s a new person in the same old body based on what happened the day before. Sometimes it’s a good change. Other times, it’s not. But regardless, every day when the sun comes up, the birds sing.” She paused and bit her lip. “One might even sing while the day is still dark.” She turned toward him and touched his arm. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”
The soldier was confused and sat waiting for more of an explanation.
“You see, birds don’t care about what happened the day before. The new day allows them to start all over again and their songs remind us to do the same, to start over. That doesn’t mean that we forget what happened, all the sadness or heartbreak, sometimes we can’t. So, the birds sing for us when we’re not up to it.” She leaned back on her hands. “So, when the sun comes up, I wait to hear the birds welcome a new adventure. They’re singing little songs of love, of healing, of anticipation, whatever we want to call them.”
“And that stray bird that sings while the day is still dark?” Marcus asked.
“That one sings of hope.”