It wasn’t me, I swear
It just fell from the sky
Right next to me
Falling through layers of air

A loud thumb
Sealed its fate
Or perhaps it was
Already dead

After sixteen years
Of sleep it screamed
In agony over life
Until now

Now it lies here
Body intact, soul astray
Food for thought
And cats

~ @nobyeni

I recently found out that cicadas spend 16 years under ground, asleep or hatching or whatever they call growing down there. I only knew them as the screamingly loud animals keeping me from my sleep. But now I understand. The shock of light and the fighting for survival would be enough reason to scream of agony.

Rest in peace, dear cicada.

And thank you for not dropping dead right on my head.

Read more short stories by @nobyeni at her website.
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