Rebirth of the Bird (Chapter 1)

(CW: Murder)

I shut the book and stood up from my table. I put the book back into its designated shelf within the library and headed out. I checked the time. 

It is 9:30 p.m. I ended up staying around too late this time... That was a delightful story though. 

As I walked back to the nearest train station, I heard my phone vibrating. I rummaged through my bag and took out my phone. I looked at who was calling me. Realizing that it was my roommate, I clicked the green answer button and started to talk. 

"Hey Kiestrel! When are you going to come back to the apartment? The dinner I cooked is already cold!" She yelled over the phone. 

I chuckled and replied, "I just finished a terrific book. I definitely recommend this one to you, but the ending is a little sour for me." 

"Geez, you're such a book worm." She scoffs. "Every time you read a book, you never even bother to check your surroundings and become lost in your own world!" 

"Well, I just can't help myself." I laughed. "Books are always good for me." 

I stopped walking along the bridge I was on and rested my arms on the rusting railing. As I talked with my roommate, I looked up into the night sky. A slight breeze passed through the air and lightly tossled my hair. The breeze brushed my face and left a cooling sensation upon it.

“There sure are a lot of stars in the night sky, huh…” 

As I said that, it seemed like a star gleamed back at me. 

“What?” 

“It’s nothing. Anyways, I’ll talk to you later.” 

“Yeah, sure. Try not to stay out too late. I’ll see you later Kiestrel.” 

“Bye.” 

“Yeah, see you.”  

I hung up and looked down into the river below. I removed my arms from the railing and started to walk back, but as I was doing so, a drunken man approached me from behind. 

“Hey missy! Hic.” The man slurred. “Y-ya got any money to spare f-for me?”   

He grabbed my wrist and started to tug at my purse. I quickly drew my free arm back in disgust.  

“No,” I said. “I don’t give change to beggars like you.” 

The man frowned; his eyebrows started to knit together. He stopped tugging at my purse. 

“Will you let go of me?”  

I was starting to get a feeling that this man wouldn’t let me go unharmed or until he got what he wanted from me. I started to quiver in fear.

“Well, hic t-that’s too bad.” His grip tightened on my arm and rammed me into the railing of the bridge.  The man drew a knife from this pocket.

“You c-coulda spared yourself a stabbing missy. Hic. You’re a real pretty one too.”    

 “Ack!" I cried out. "What are you doing? Let go of me you drunkard!”  

I felt my stomach recoil. I tried to resist his grip by pulling my wrist free, but he only tightened it. Before I could react, he stabbed my stomach and quickly pulled out the knife [and let go of my wrist]. 

I cried out in pain. I knew I was going to die before any help was going to arrive. This didn’t look good. I felt myself losing consciousness. I clutched my stomach just to prevent any more blood from falling out of my body. (A futile attempt to save myself.)

“Y-you bastard.”  

He just laughed and pushed me over the railing [of the bridge], grabbing onto my purse. As I was falling into the river, I recalled some of my past memories…  

I’ve always wanted to be free from worries and fly in the sky like a bird. I was so tired and sick of working a 9-5 job every single week. I barely had any time to myself. If I’m reborn, I wish for a slow life free from worries. Maybe I’ll be reincarnated as an animal or bird or something (which would be ridiculous). 

My consciousness faded away from the pain once I plunged into the river. As I closed my eyes, I felt something warm (maybe a light?) surround me. 

So, this is what it feels like to die, huh? To my roomate, I’m sorry I couldn’t make it back to the apartment for dinner… 

●◐○◑● 

As I regained my consciousness, I savored the moment I had to rest. It is warm and cozy. I never want to leave. A pleasant breeze blew through the air. Is this what they call heaven? I was never a devout follower to any religion, but this was a nice change from my previous life…  

I slowly opened my eyes and took in my surroundings. There was grass and greenery everywhere. The flowers were blooming. It seemed like it was spring.  

After sleeping for what felt like an eternity, I started to notice my legs cramping up. 

Oh well, I could use a stretch. I tried to say this sentence, but my voice wouldn’t come out. 

Well, that was weird. I didn’t think any more of it. I decided to stand up. I looked down and saw that I seemed shorter than usual. I was also in a little brown… nest?  

I stretched my arms and…

Wait.

I turned my head quickly and looked at my…

W-WINGS?!

There were feathers and everything birds had! 

… What on earth? Was I seriously reincarnated?  

This must be a pleasant dream, right? Reincarnation only happened in the light novels I read back when I was on Earth... 

... Was I still on earth, or even still in the same universe I was once in?

This might just be an illusion from God or whoever right? After all, I was in heaven… Right? 

I would have pinched myself, but I was a bird. I opened my mouth- I mean beak [instead]- and plucked a feather from my right wing. There was a slight sting for a moment and then it faded away.

No... This isn't an illusion. The pain is too real.

I looked around, yet again. I turned my head and spotted a town near my nest. Might as well try to befriend some of the other... creatures... that live in this world.

Well then, let's fly there. It wouldn't hurt to explore this world.

 I stood at the edge of my nest, spread my wings, and leaped off as far as my little legs would allow me. As I took off, I felt my body start to go down. It turns out, I had no idea how to fly, or how to even utilize my wings properly.

I desperately flapped my wings in order to gain some momentum within the air, but I started to plummet back to the ground.

Wha- woah!!! No good, abort mission!!!

I let out a great screech from my beak and plummeted into the tall grass, face first.

What a great first way to spend my... er... reincarnation.