The monarch

c c    The Monarch    d d

      There was a little green monarch chrysalis hanging on the pole of one of the insectaries. I found it the day when Meg was there.

      A week later I got a letter from her.

      “In the weeks to come, your monarch chrysalis in the insectary will be growing dark, signaling an immanent emergence. I expect you too, will have undergone sufficient transformation to also emerge, casting off the remains of an undergraduate perspective, and taking on the form of a taneral scientist. As is an exciting process and one that will make you stronger, more confident, and more at peace with yourself. ”

      After that I went there everyday to check the little chrysalis. Day after day I was waiting for the moment to witness this great transition. Day after day I was hoping I was going through the same process as the little creature in there.

      One day when I finish my observation, I went there again to check. It was after the rain. Everything was wet. I saw something hanging there, but it was empty. It emerged! I open the insectary. It must be in there. I could not wait to see it. I looked for a while and didn’t found a beautiful monarch, but only a little gray ugly butterfly. The wings didn’t expand out normally. The abdomen was distorted at a big angle. I checked once again and was sure that it was the only butterfly inside.

      I was struck by the huge contrast between the expectation and reality. But the little poor butterfly flew to my hand and stopped there. The touch of his legs was gentle. Only think positively, Qiuqiu. So I thought I should encourage him.

      “Hay, we were on the same boat. And you did it first. It was great. Don’t worry. You will live on. Just wait and see.”

      But the butterfly flew to my face and stopped on my nose.

      “What do you want to say to me?”

      He flapped his wings. I almost sneezed. I carried him out and put him on the top of a grass. He flew up for a second and fell down. He struggled and flew up again and crashed down again…

      I stopped here, for a long time, to think how to end this piece. Language seems too pale. Any attitude I add should be awkward. For this true and sad story, there is no end.