To kill a starling bird

 A murmuration of starling birds; the most mesmerizing sight of the winter skies!

 

Starling birds are widespread in my region, they flock here each winter. I love the image of thousands of black starling birds flying all over, I could admire their murmuration for hours.

My first tattoo on the side of my chest is a flying starling, shot in the heart by an arrow.

Today, I killed one of them... 

It was one of these things that you never want to happen to you when you drive, like, you know... kill someone? 
I was on my way to work this morning. Hundreds of them were on the road eating. I was running at the highway speed limit of 90km/h. I saw them and reduced speed, most of them flew away; except one of them didn't... 

Now I understand that it's ok, and these things happen. I also know that hunters kill hundreds of them during hunting season, and some people eat them too. 

But, at that moment, I had to stop and mourn for that little fella. 
And so I cried
And then I wept profusely 
And then I sobbed uncontrollably for about 20 minutes
All I could think of was 'I'm sorry!' 'I'm so sorry!!' 

And so I made a promise, a promise to nature and to myself
That when I have a choice, I'll choose life. For me, and for Mother Nature's children.
For no life matters more than the other, no matter how small or large that is. 

I'll choose life

Unless there is no other way 
In which case I'll choose respect