19/02/2025
The snake bit the hen, and with the poison burning in her body, she sought refuge in her henhouse.
But the other hens preferred to expel her so that the poison would not spread.
The hen limped away, crying in pain. Not because of the bite, but because of the abandonment and disdain of her own family at the time when she needed them most.
And so she left... burning with fever, dragging one of her legs, vulnerable to the cold nights.
With each step, a tear fell.
The hens in the henhouse watched her go away, watching her disappear on the horizon. Some said to each other:
— Let her go... She will die far from us.
And when the hen finally vanished into the immensity of the horizon, they were all sure that she had died.
Some even looked at the sky, hoping to see vultures flying.
Time passed.
Much later, a hummingbird came to the henhouse and announced:
— Your sister is alive! She lives in a cave far away from here.
She recovered, but lost a leg from the snake bite.
She has trouble finding food and needs your help.
There was silence. Then the excuses began:
— I can't go, I'm laying eggs...
— I can't go, I'm looking for corn...
— I can't go, I have to take care of my chicks...
So, one by one, they all rejected the request. The hummingbird returned to the cave without help.
Time passed again.
Much later, the hummingbird returned, but this time with painful news:
— Your sister has passed away... She died alone in the cave... There is no one to bury her or mourn her.
At that moment, a weight fell on everyone. A deep lament filled the henhouse.
Those who were laying eggs stopped.
Those who were looking for corn left the seeds behind.
Those who were caring for chicks forgot about them for a moment.
Regret hurt more than any poison. Why didn't we go before?, they asked themselves.
And without measuring the distance or the effort, they all set off for the cave, crying and lamenting. Now they had a reason to see her, but it was too late.
