Persephone

It’s suddenly warm outside.

There’s a damp smell everywhere and rain over the past few days has pushed back the last shreds of winter.

There are birds now, again — battling back and forth through the bare trees and bushes, little turf wars being fought here and there.

Walking into work this morning I stopped and turned back. Two flocks of birds were calling to each other across the parking lot.

They sounded exactly like frightened children, screaming in the night.