The Cocooning Snake

  Butterflies. Rainbows and butterflies.

  Young girls. Pink bows and puffed tutus.

  Stuffed ponies and pony tails.

 
  But I never was that kind of girl. As a kid, I ran after elder boys and kicked them in the sheen. I often wore the clothes that no longer fit my brother. I always had my hair tied in a bun. I didn't look like the other Barbie girls. As I grew older into the teen years, I saw the girls sneak their way to the playground where they could spend their break time with their crushes or boyfriends while I steadily made my way to the various student activities which no one seemed to notice ever existed in our school.

  I was tough enough to pinpoint my higher purpose in life back then, and pursued it. No one "saw" me, neither did I make much way for myself to "see" anyone.

  Many years later, along came a frog whose croak bore magic.
"What animal would you think I would be?" I asked the frog, "what animal would you say inspires me?"

  I knew it would never reply similarly to the thoughts lingering in my head, for it's quite an unusual thought for normal people that girls aspire to lead the life of a snake.

****

  Snakes. An entity of muscles and strength. Feared by all. Respected by all.

  Emotions of a snake? Rarely ever the first impression to be remembered for, despite its genuine existence.

  Yet everyone seems to forget that snakes don't bite unless threatened.

   "A butterfly," the frog answered my question. "You're peaceful, tiny and you appreciate nature" replied the frog to my sarcastic dissent.

  But it wasn't just dissent, it was the disdain. A snake faces threat, whereas a butterfly just flutters its way away from trouble. Everyone admires a butterfly for its pretty colours, regardless of its slimy past. But a snake has to lead its life only noticed when feared, always sought to be killed, never to be embraced.

  In any normal case, the snake would just eat the frog, but this particular frog's croak simply hypnotized the snake. It was like a sedative that assured the snake it was not under threat. Although the snake feared not the frog would hurt it, neither did it want to hurt the frog, there was a sudden feeling of restlessness that disturbed the snake most.

  "A butterfly!" Could I truly be?
  For the first time, the snake had to choose between its strength and poise, and the chance to let loose and flutter off into the carefree butterfly world.

 Except, what would a snake turn into if it chooses to enter the cocoon?!