When I need a break from my computer desk job, I have a cup of coffee on the veranda.

Set under the Nigerien sky and housing my mother’s plants and parrots, the veranda is a peaceful place to be reminded of that today is another beautiful day and that the best quality moments come from looking at the little things.

From her desk by the window, my mother would look out on her beloved parrots, who would call out to her whenever they wanted her attention.

Left to right: Jackie, Parotti, Mr or Mrs Rosén (I can never tell which…) & Skrutten

My mother always spent a lot of time with her birds. They loved the attention, and although she had her personal favourite, she didn’t neglect any of the others. They loved seeing her, and if she was sick on day and they hadn’t seen her for a while, they would fly to the door or the window and call on her, letting her know they were waiting for her to get better and to come back out again.

It’s been nearly three years since she was evacuated from Niger, but they haven’t forgotten her. As I let Skrutten out to work his wings (that bird loves to fly, in contrast to the other ones who prefer climbing), he immediately flew to her window to call on her.

He sat there for such a long while, singing his heart out for her, only stopping to see if he was getting a reaction.

In the world as he knows it, his merry tune would bring her out of the door any time, singing a song back to him.

But she didn’t, and that confused him. So he tried again, on a higher pitch and more serious this time.

Although the glass is mirrored from the outside, Skrutten has learned that if he shadows it, he can look down at her desk and see her. But he couldn’t.

And so he looked over to me, confused, wondering why.

I couldn’t explain it to him. I couldn’t tell him that his favourite human had gone to heaven.

My heart broke, but I made no efforts to hold it up. Although painful, it was a quality moment and a reminder that all good things cost. As they should.

I sat there, tears rolling, looking back at him and sharing his heart’s desire. When my tears had dried, I put him back in his cage and went back to work.

But the longing is still there. As soundly as ever.