Zazu

The lights go out. The songs of Africa fill the air. The drums. The music. The curtain rises.

A yellow beak appears. A bird, serious, precise, a little awkward.

His name is Zazu.

His job is one: never lose sight of Simba.

He follows him everywhere.

Even where he shouldn't go.

Even when Simba doesn't want to be followed.

Then Simba grows up. Learns to roar. Takes his place in the world.

And Zazu stays there. With the same look as always.

Because caring continues even when the other no longer needs it.

It changes shape. It becomes silence, distance, quiet presence.

It becomes knowing they are fine without you. It becomes company that doesn't need to be close to be there.

But inside, for those who held someone's hand through everything, they will always be the cub who ran ahead too fast.

That evening I watched you laugh in the dark.

You have grown up.

I took your hand.

You smiled at me.