Butterfly Effect - A Short Story

It’s the end of April. There is no sign of buds. There have been many rains and days of sun. But the dryness of the branches still remains. There is no sign of pollen. I am a new butterfly and there is no flower in sight.

What am I gonna do?

How am I gonna survive?

Who do I even ask?

That elm tree looks like he’s lived a while. He would surely know where are all the flowers and the summer?

“O’ wise Elm, why are you still dry? When is the earth coming alive?”

“It’s not.”

“What do you mean it’s not? It always does. There is always a spring after the winter and then the summer. It can’t just be winter the whole time. Will I never get to taste the sweet nectar that I dreamed about? OH NO. This cannot be happening.”

“It can and it is happening.”

“WHY? I just got my wings. I dreamed about the flowers my whole life - my entire cocooned life. A few weeks, but still my whole life.”

“Why? You ask why? The humans are the dumbest creation ever. They have sworn to kill the planet. Before they kill us all, we are going to wipe them out.”

“Wait, who is we?”

“The elements. Water is tired of their bullshit. He doesn’t want to come out of the ground. Fire has been anti human from the beginning. They have always treated her differently. Never fully accepted her. We are all tired of humans except air. She. is. delusional. Still thinks that there is hope.”

“Yes, there is still hope. And aren’t you all so powerful? Can’t you change humans instead of killing them?”

“This is the punishment of their crimes - of their ignorance, apathy and cruelty.”

“Surely, not all of them deserve this fate. There have to be some who are good at heart. Maybe I need to team up with the wind. I cannot die without seeing one flower. Without tasting the sweet nectar of a rose. Or any flower. I will take any.”

“O’ kind winds, I heard you want to save summer. Shall I be any of your service?”

“Hello little butterfly, I see you want to see summer. But I don’t think it’s in me anymore. I have been trying to convince everyone but their anger, the rage - it’s not ready to listen. They are not ready to reason. And I am not ready to give up.”

“Okay, I am new to the world, so I don’t know how things work in the element department. Isn’t there supposed to be an agreement among everyone if you want to cancel summer?”

“There should be.”

“Well, is there a rule book or an in charge?”

“hmmm, I sense that you were a human working in corporate in your previous life and your longing for summer makes sense. Well, there is no hardcore rule book as such. But, there is an in charge.”

“Is the in charge on your side or their side?”

“Neither mine nor theirs. In charge is always on the side of love. So, probably my side. You are a genius, butterfly! Thanks for the idea. coz credit is important. Let’s go talk to the creator.”

“You mean, umm, the creator, creator?”

“Yes, the creator of you, me, all my elemental friends as well.”

“What do you mean? Can we just TALK to the creator? Isn’t it, isn’t he, aren’t they supposed to be formless, pure consciousness or something. What pronouns do I even use? He? She? How are we going to talk to a formless infinite being?”

“Relax, little butterfly. It’s not that complicated. The creator can be anything and that’s the beauty of the creator. We will just really have to focus and want to talk to them and they will come stand in front of us in whichever form they desire. Wait and watch.”

Wind whirled in circles, lifting the dust and dried leaves along - creating a storm. A storm that looked like a bridge between the earth and the sky. Then it suddenly stopped.

“What happened? Did you talk to the creator, already?”

“No, I could not connect.”

“Why?”

“I think I tried too hard to be intense.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“Channel the most loved frequency by the creator - love.”

“How will you do that?”

“Come, fly with me.”

The wind flows softly grazing the bare branches, the dust on the land. Fluttering my wings, I follow along. This breeze is making time freeze. The flow, the peace, the rhythm - I feel free. I feel free. Oh, I feel free.

“Hello little butterfly and wise wind. You look like you’re in love.”

“Indeed. We are. I...”

“What! Thats the creator?”

“Told you - whichever form they like.”

“When they could have been anything in the whole wide world, they chose to show up as a fucking caterpillar?”

“I am funny. I know.”

“Don’t mind her. She had a corporate job in her past life.”

“Ohh, sweetie, you have been through hell. Let me help you out. Whatever you need. Just say the word.”

“I want to see summer and taste the sweet nectar of flowers.”

“Okay, that should be easy. What do you need, wise wind?”

“I need to bring back hope.”

“Okay. Tell me more.”

“The earth has given up on humanity. The fire has given up on transformation. The water has given up on cleansing. They have lost hope and believe that humanity has gone to the dark side and cannot be brought back. I want you to tell them that there is still hope.”

“I admire your resilience, my friend.”

…

..

….

“Pst, pst, pst, wind, are they gonna do some massive, a miracle or just stare into an oblivion. Why do I feel like we have the wrong creator.”

“Have faith. They are just taking a moment to calculate infinities.”

“Thanks, air, for bringing this to my attention and always believing in me. Water - what’s going on mate? When did you loose your cool?”

“Seriously? You come as a caterpillar this time. oh, You are so lame.”

“Why so snarky, my friend?”

“I am disappointed.”

“In me?”

In you. In humans. In myself for believing in humans. They are not loyal to anybody. I am angry at you for not teaching them what loyalty is. They were supposed to be living in harmony with us. Instead, they have been just using us, selfishly.”

“Do you feel better?”

“I don’t want to admit but I do.”

“Can we give them one more chance?”

“If you say so!”

“Fire O fire, light of the souls, where is your hope?”

“I burned it.”

“I see. Would you like to talk about it?'“

“What is there to talk about?”

“hmmm”

“There is nothing to talk about. Humans are evil. All of them. Since beginning. Since you created me. They have been using me. They were grateful for a while but then I don’t know the narrative started changing and all of sudden I am the evil one. They are afraid of me. What did I do? All the fire inside their heart is dead. I cannot connect with them anymore. I am not even in their lives. Maybe in a few. But really few light candles and stuff. But… If I am gone from their lives, why should I keep them in mine? Humans are ungrateful as fuck. Even you bruh, they keep asking you for more and more things. When they should just be grateful that you gave them a fucking life. They should be grateful to just be a part of this existence!”

“So, if they try to become more grateful, we can give them another chance?”

“If they really try!”

“Of course, if they really try.”

“Now to my old friend, earth. How have you been, my love?”

“I am just tired. I am exhausted from all the hoping for a change but keep meeting with disappointment all the time.”

“Why didn’t you come to me?”

“I had faith in you, at first. I thought, the universe was created in harmony - to sustain itself. I was hoping that there would be harmony at some point. And I waited and waited. But it has been worsening ever since you created humans. Then, the faith started fading and I thought maybe this is the plan. Your plan to make everyone suffer. Coz, trust me, I have been suffering. There is so much pain. Oh, how they think they own me. They are the most entitled creation. I have been taking care of them for so long. But now, I am done. Let’s see how long till they last, when we stop doing our part.”

“Oh dear, they are not gonna last a year.”

“That’s good. That would be timely good riddance.”

“I feel your pain, earth. I feel you feeling their pain as well. We all do. You love them the most, hence got hurt the most. Now, my friend, so you really want to end humanity if there are other solutions?”

“No. I really don’t.”

“My lovely elements, you have been doing a lot. Playing your part in the fabric of life when humans have still not gotten over playing with power. Not gonna lie, the gap in harmony is pretty wide. But whats the point of being the most powerful being in the creation if I cannot do the impossible?”

“So, you mean, I am getting summer!”

“Just one flutter and you’ll be living your dream!”

written by Arsh Kaur

A poem from my upcoming poetry book - The Summer I Found My Wings.

Trust

I walk exhausted.
Then I see seagulls flying.
Flying in Joy.
Flying to feel the air.
Flying to enjoy the air.

Flying is all they have known.
Flying is all they can.
Flying is all they dream of
Flying to the sky
Flying above the sky.
Is there a seagull that doesn’t fly?
I have never seen one who does not soar up high in the sky
Living to fly with its wings.

Why have I forgotten my wings?
When will I learn to fly?
The elders say, when the cocoon of caterpillar breaks -
Only then the butterfly grows wings.
The cocoon of comfort.
The cocoon of judgment.
The cocoon of fear needs to break.
To take the leap.
To take the leap from the cliff.
Leap of trust.
Trust in yourself.
Trust in your bravery.
Trust in your kindness.

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