The animal and I stared at each other as if there were a staring contest. I was confused why it had paper. Then my confusion changed to concern. It mistook the piece of paper for food. It was going to eat the paper! I could not watch it choke and die. I had to save it. But how?

As much as I did not want to, I let the bird in. I opened the window and beckoned it to come in. I know. Stupid of me to let in a wild creature. But how else was I going to help it? I watched as it flapped its wings and flew in. The paper was still in its beak. It flew around my room before landing on my bed. It laid on its back and rolled around on my sheets. I giggled and wheeled to the bed. I clasped my hands in my lap.

"Somebody likes my covers," I spoke. "Hey, please give me the paper. It is not food. I do not want you to choke to death." I wanted to slap myself. "Like that you could understand me. Why am I wasting time talking to you? I should get that paper."

The bird stopped and stood. It looked up at me.

"The paper in your mouth. I do not want you to devour it. Paper is not food." I let out a long whoosh of air and held out my open hand. "There I go again. I am talking to you. Heh. Guess that you will talk with anyone when you are friendless."

The bird hopped to my hand and dropped the paper in it. I was a bit surprised - and happy - that it obeyed. So could it understand what I was saying?

I closed my hand and brought it to my face. I opened it and unfolded said paper. It was as small as the animal. I realized that it was a note. Black words were on it. So was my name. I ran a finger along a word, smearing it. Fresh. I raised my finger to my nose and sniffed it. Ink. Whoever wrote the note must have used a small pen or something. But what I needed to know was...who made it out? How did they know my name?

This note was too small to read. I faced the nightstand. I gripped the drawer and pulled it out. I reached in and fumbled for my reading glasses. I gasped when I nearly fell out from my wheelchair. I froze and focused on my breathing. From the corner of my eye, I saw the animal return to rolling around on said bed. I knew that it was happy because it was chirping. I finally got said glasses and put a finger to my lips. I shushed the bird and told it to be quiet. It must have obeyed because its chirping stopped. It continued enjoying my warm bed.

I have never seen a bird quite like this one, peaking my interest. I view red and blue birds. And sometimes the occasional green birds. But a purple bird is a first. The wings were dark purple, and the beak was dark orange. If only I knew its gender. Then I could name it. Nope. I was not keeping it. I wanted us to be buddies. I wanted it to visit.

"Has any bird ever told you how gorgeous you are?"

The bird stopped rolling and was on its belly. It looked back up at me with its beady eyes and shook its head.

I patted its head with my finger. "I think - I know - that you are the most gorgeous bird that I have ever laid my eyes upon. I had no idea that purple birds existed."

It chirped and covered its face using its wings.

"Hey. I was complimenting you. I like you. Such a cutie pie."

It slowly uncovered its adorable face and got on its feet and hopped to the edge of said bed. I held out my hand so it would not fall on the floor - although that it flies. I watched as it leaped in my hand and sat. I forgot about the note and brought the tiny bird to my face. I figured that it was a baby and kissed its forehead. I asked what its gender was and scolded myself for asking.

The bird flapped its wings and flew to the bookshelf. It perched on top and opened my box of markers. It took out a blue marker and dragged it to the pile of paper. It managed to pull off the cap with its feet and wrote on a blank paper. I spun my wheelchair around and laid my head in my hand. I wondered what it was writing. I did not ask because...it is an animal. It will not understand me. So I did not waste my breath.

The bird tossed the marker on said shelf and picked up the paper using its feet. It held it over. I pointed at said paper and asked if I should take it. It nodded.

My eyes went wide. "You...you understand me?"

It nodded and waved the paper around.

I took it - and was stunned by what was on it. Only one word. It was the word "boy." I gazed back at the animal and showed it the paper. "Are you a boy?"

It nodded for a third time.

I set the paper in my lap. "H-how is this possible? How can you understand me? I cannot even understand you or your chirps. So how..." My voice trailed off.

It - he - motioned to the window with his head.

I wheeled back to said window and examined it. "What about the window?"

He wrote another word on a second page and gave it to me. I took it and read it. It was the word "open."

"You want me to open the window?"

He nodded.

"Why?"