Soaring Condor -

He remembered his grandfather’s stories. The condor carries the souls of the old ones , the old man would say, stirring a pot of quinua. When you see one rise, it means someone up there has remembered how to fly.

“No,” the old man said, tapping a finger against Mateo’s chest. “You saw yourself. The condor only shows you what is already there. The question is not whether you saw it. The question is: will you remember how to rise when no one is watching?” soaring condor

“You did not see a condor today, mijo,” he said softly. He remembered his grandfather’s stories

Mateo stood. He picked up his staff. He gathered his sheep. But as he walked the long switchback home, his feet felt lighter. His eyes kept drifting to the sky, not searching, but remembering. “No,” the old man said, tapping a finger

He opened his eyes. The condor was gone. The sky was empty, a clean, indifferent blue. His sheep were wandering. The heat was returning. He should go back.