Egg 1 hatches into a larva called the caterpillar, which later turns into a pupa called chrysalis, and finally it becomes a full grown butterfly and off it goes to explore its own world.
Egg 2 hatches into a chick with little hair on it. Weak as it is, is receives worms collected over rain or shine by its mother, and grow into a muscular bird. Just when it learns how to spread its wings, it flies away, and away it goes.
Egg 3 is slightly more special. It produces a zygote which grows into a fetus and out she comes into the world two weeks premature where she goes through a month as a neonate, the next 11 months as an infant, and the following 17 years as a child. She rolls, she crawls, she walks, she runs. She babbles out papa and mama. She learns ABC and goes to the nursery. She hears mommy says that she is going to get a younger sister or brother and she feels excited, wondering whether she should ask for a sister or a brother. After a long wait, he or she has not arrived and mommy does not say why.
She starts school, plays sports, does her homework, plays pranks on her poor mates. Mommy packs lunch for her everyday, and helps her with her revision. She goes through exams, passing each and every paper with flying colours, but is angry at mommy cos she gets nagged at for watching television and not keeping her room clean. She ignores mommy and does not talk to her for the next 24 hours. She realises she starts to look and feel different and she thinks she is the odd one out. She gets mood swings and throws tantrums at mommy and daddy. But once, she sees mommy cries, she never asks why and she puts down to daddy’s fault.
She starts to hate home, she wants to hang out with her friends but daddy and mommy always say no and never give a reason. She gets into relationships, explores the world on her own without daddy’s and mommy’s knowledge. She tells herself that when her wings grow one day, she will spread them wide apart and fly away. She starts counting down to that day. Her life starts becoming more and more dull. She thinks she has depression. She seldom talks at home and just stays in her room. She finishes high school and goes into college. Her life is basically filled with only studies and educational related issues and she is bored. Mommy always nags, daddy always scolds. Mommy and daddy always say she is not good enough. But she is not angry anymore, ‘cos she knows the day that she has been counting down to for so long, is coming very close. It is time she polishes her feathers, learns a few basic tips and be ready to fly any moment. *tick* *tock* *tick* *tock*
The time is finally here.
She flies, and never looks back. Her heart is just filled with immense joy and satisfaction she has never felt in her life. She feels free like a bird. Never does she knows, that mommy and daddy just shed tears.
She catches a glimpse but her mind is not processing. She focuses on what she is pursuing and she is sure she is going to be happy.
Once, she thinks about mommy and daddy. She wonders how they are doing but she is sure they will do fine. Once she thinks about mommy and daddy on two occasions in a day and she wonders if they are thinking about her, but she is sure they will be alright without her. Once she thinks about mommy and daddy at night just before she sleeps, and she realises that she kinda misses them and their presence, but she is sure she will do fine just alone. Once she thinks of mommy and daddy continuously for hours in a day, she wonders and she asks, and she is not sure anymore. She breaks down and cries. She cries and cries for hours. For the first time she wishes her wings did not grow.
She realises she loves them so much more than she thought she did. She wants to be in their embrace forever. She does not want her wings anymore. Mommy and daddy say they will be happy as long as she can pursue her dreams and lead a good life. Mommy says not to worry as they will do just fine. Daddy smiles and says it is a relief she is not at home so there will be more peace and privacy for both of them.
But she knows, mommy and daddy cry. They miss her but they never say.
She knows, that mommy and daddy wait everyday just to hear her voice and see her face.
She knows, that mommy and daddy cook her favourite dishes at home so they are reminded of her.
She knows, that daddy uses her room for his work and mommy wears her tops.
It takes her almost two decades of her life to come to the understanding of parental love. Mommy and daddy once told her that it will one day ring a bell in her head and the day is here. She promises herself that mommy and daddy will not need to worry about anything in their lives in the next few decades. She will cater for them, just like how they had catered for her for twenty years. She will be patient and explain things to them even if it takes them ten times to understand, just like how they used to be patient and teach her when she was young. She will help them walk when they start having difficulties to, just like how they taught her to walk when she was one.
Mommy and daddy, everyday is a celebration, a celebration of my love for you. I love you both more than anyone and anything else in this world.
Credits to be given to our loyal coop auntie who used to spend most of her time there for years. I think I can still remember her voice 
