Oh, Sierra...I'm so sorry. If I hadn't brought you in today, or if I'd simply not let the vet try to take off your band, you'd still be alive. It's all my fault, and I'm so sorry. I was an idiot, cocky in my assumed knowledge about bird medicine and care. I thought for sure you'd be fine.
I can't believe how quickly you faded and died. I thought maybe you'd aspirated some of the water I'd given you, but you seemed okay, until about ten minutes later. I heard you coughing, so I picked you up, to see what was wrong. You were breathing so shallowly, and I knew you were going away from me. You convulsed a few times, spit up some cloudy fluid, then stopped breathing. I could feel your little heart going so fast, then it slowed, then stopped. I held you, and cried.
I'm so sorry. Nothing I can ever do will make up for the mistakes I made today. Nothing.
I love you so much. I miss you. I miss the way you'd put your head down, against your cage bars, so we'd give you scritches. I miss your silly little songs that sounded like bad imitations of Amante. I miss the funny looks you'd give me when I was eating something you thought you wanted, then, if I offered you any, you wouldn't eat it. I miss how you'd get excited about carrot slices. I miss how you'd always beg me for food in the morning, how you'd stare at me for over an hour, until I got out of bed. I miss how you attack your silly toy with the shells, because you wanted something to eat. You always made it seem like I was starving you, but you were 40 grams heavier than the other two tiels.
I'll see you again, my beloved baby. Wait for me and the others at the Bridge. I hope you're not in pain anymore.
RIP, Sierra.
Im so so sorry. I cant believe you lost her. I was really hoping she would make it.
