Mate for Life

He looked helplessly at his mate’s fallen body on the side of the road, then glanced quickly at the passing cars. He seemed to be asking for help, but no one would stop. No movement was made by the feathery grey body. Sadness and tears came over me when I saw this. I knew it was a hit and run. Nothing could be done to save the sandhill crane. They mate for life. At this point, that crane didn’t know what to do. His life mate was dead and he couldn’t go on. Maybe he was in denial and was waiting for her to get up. Maybe he just didn’t know what to do without her by his side. I wonder if he didn’t step in front of a car soon after that. I can’t stop thinking about them.