Since I was a child, I was always interested in animals; I grew up surrounded by many of them. In my home we always had dogs and cats, but when I visited my grandmother Amparo’s farm, it was truly magical. In that small but grand house, my grandmother talked every day with a parrot named Martha, a striking bird of jungle green with yellow tones that resembled the sun. My grandmother never tired of talking to her. She allowed her to roam freely around the entire farm, and, without understanding why, Martha never left, always having the opportunity to take flight. It seemed that Martha truly enjoyed spending time with my grandmother, as they complemented each other, and not to mention when someone else arrived: those were the most enjoyable conversations of the whole family, filled with laughter, chatter, and joy.

Martha had been with the family for two years when my grandmother passed away from cancer. It was an event that affected us all, but especially this little songbird. It was very impressive to see how she also experienced grief: she stopped talking and, in silence, roamed every corner of the house, searching for her loyal companion who no longer existed on this plane. She spent several weeks like that, worrying everyone in case she got sick, as she ate very little and hardly enjoyed her stay on the farm. Three months after my grandmother’s death, something very strange happened: Martha began to regain her brightness little by little. The parrot started talking to us again; those lovely words that made anyone nearby smile returned. But what we didn’t know was what would happen after her recovery.

One day, while we were at the house, Martha called out my grandmother’s name with a cry; she said her name, “Amparo,” so clearly that it shocked the whole family. It was an event as casual as it was beautiful. Hours later, Martha began to walk near each person: my mother, my father, my brother; and then, after saying goodbye to everyone, she flew off in the blink of an eye from the farm. It was the first time she had done so, and it happened so suddenly that no one had time to catch her. Slowly we watched as Martha flew away into a blue sky, taking with her our memories of herself and my grandmother, and leaving behind the home where she had grown up, but where she no longer had her best friend tying her — not literally, but with that force of love that kept them united. That was when we understood that Martha didn’t leave her home, but rather ascended to the sky in search of her faithful companion, both souls free and seeking the reunion of their eternal love.

This entire experience with animals, especially with Martha, motivated me to study the career of my dreams: Biology. There I found my vocation and reason for being: to study for and with the goal of animal conservation, advocating for their freedom and respect. They are great beings with great stories, many of which also deserve to be told.

Thank you!