“Chubby face marked with this stupid scar…a little flub on the sides here…another over there…god, my thighs are so big! Is that a pimple? Please tell me it isn’t a pimple! It is a pimple! Oh great! The perfect addition to an imperfect little me!” Riley insulted herself as she intricately examined every inch of her body in front of a body mirror. It was a routine for her to stand in front of the mirror every morning, as her self-esteem take a nasty plunge into nothingness. “Why can’t I be pretty like those women in the magazine, maybe then someone will finally notice me!”

Riley Vaughan was a 21-year-old student in the University of Florida. Naturally from Canada, Riley relocated to sunny-Florida in search of a new life as she put her sad past behind her. “If I let the past ruin my present, then I will never be happy!” she often assured herself when times seem dim and hopeless.

Quickly grabbing her car keys that laid peacefully on top of a small wooden table, she made her way out of her small lowly apartment. Upon reaching her car, she noticed a small parakeet limping its way to the ground, as if to be calling out for help. She retreated her path to her car and instead, made her way to where the small bird was hardly hopping.

“Aw, are you hurt?” she said in a comforting voice as she carefully picked up the little bird in her hands and stood up. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’ll be just fine!” Riley stood up and roamed her eyes around the small parking lot to see if there was a sight of the bird’s owner…nobody. “Well, I guess it’s just you and me for now bud!” she grinned as she continued her way to her car and drove off.

After driving for about 10 minutes, Riley reached a small pet shop and made her way inside.

“Ding!” a small bell on the bottom of the door made the sound to signify someone’s presence inside the small store.

“Can I help you?” a voice called out, belonging to a woman. Small and pudgy, but she had a kind face as her smile beamed from her cheek to cheek.

“Yeah, I uh…I think this little bird is hurt,” Riley explained while making her way to the counter. “I’m not sure if you could help me out here but…”

“Of course I could help you out!” the lady said in a cheerful tone as she took the parakeet from Riley’s hand. “Now what do we have here?” she examined. “Ah…a broken wing…what happened?”

“I…I don’t know. I saw him…or her…or…”

“Him! This little beauty is a he!” the lady exclaimed as she held the little bird in front of her face and began to playfully tease the injured animal.

“Oh…well I saw him on the ground of my parking lot at home”

“That’s good luck!”

“I’m sorry?” Riley frowned.

“There’s this old fables’ tale that if you find an injured bird and you tend to it, you will get good luck!”

Riley chuckled, somewhat in disbelief at what she heard, “Yeah sure. Look can you help him out or what?”

“Yeah, come back in a few hours and I’ll have this little angel ready for you!”

“Okay, thank you,” Riley exclaimed followed by a glance on her watch. “Crap! Okay, I’ll be back around 5 this afternoon!” and rushed out of the store, back into her car and screeched out of the parking lot of the pet shop.