The cardinal That chose My hand

"I was in my house when I noticed a small red bird on the floor. It was a cardinal, bright against the floorboards, sitting very still. I reached down slowly to pick it up, and it hopped right onto my hand as if it had been waiting for me. It never tried to fly away. I could feel its tiny feet gripping my fingers and its light weight resting in my palm. I walked through the house with it, calm and a little amazed, and showed it to my family. They gathered around, smiling, and the cardinal stayed perched on my hand, unafraid. When I woke up, my hand still felt strangely warm, as if the bird had just left it. I felt gentle and content, with a quiet sense of comfort that stayed with me as I started my day."