Holding On

She looks down, not because she is weak, but because she is tired of carrying too much. The small bird in her hands is fragile, just like her hope. She holds it carefully, afraid that letting go might mean losing it forever. The red threads around her hands are not there to hurt her. They remind her of everything she has been through and everything she is still trying to protect. She stays quiet. She stays gentle. And she keeps holding on.