Caged birds

There was this bird shop. Within this shop was this large cage. The cage was like a mini-room, but with reinforced steel bars. The cage also had a tiny door, so small that it would seem impossible for any birds to pass through. Within this cage lived many birds. You would have find it difficult to count the number of birds living in the cage as the number seemed to be always changing. These birds were truly amazing, no one is the same as the other. Some have pretty feathers, some rather dull. Some make melodious chirps, others screeched. Some were healthy, some pudgy. Some liked to fly quickly, some fly at their own pace. They were so different but they form little communities within the cage. There was never-ending supply of bird seeds for the birds, sometimes some variaties were more awful than the rest. The owner of the bird shop had very special rules: for every five days the birds stay within the cage, the birds are allowed to leave the cage for two days. Not totally free, but it offered a glimpse of freedom for the birds. In addition, after two years in the cage, the birds will be set free. I thought this must be wonderful. I asked the owner how was the birds as I became interested in them. Initially, the birds were very enthusiastic about the two years rule: they flew around, training themselves up for the freedom. Over time, when they realised that time is longer than it seemed, they became restless and lazy. One by one, they stopped flying or singing, just staying inside the cage awaiting for the release. I was depressed to hear all this. On the particular day of the release, I was there to witness the event. As the owner opened the cage for the last time, the anticipation of release was dampened by the shock of realisation. The birds seemed to be thinking that no longer will they be together again, no longer will there be free food, no longer do they have to follow any schedule. So much freedom, so little time to accept, without any hesitation, they reluctantly flew away.