I was once told a story of a golden bird that lived in a cage without bars. Every day, it sat on the floor and stared at the sky as if it was contemplating its freedom and the limitless possibilities that lay beyond. This cage was once ornated with the rarest gems known to men and embroidered with mesmerizing images of angels and female deities. Once it had gold bars. Her freedom was just wingspread away but she never spread her wings.
I never truly understood the story until I met a bird name Simmi. Playful smile, curious eyes, and a cute little nose adorned with a nose pin.

If she had not been the girlfriend of my roommate, I would have fallen for her in our very first meeting.

When it comes to relationships, I have never been fortunate. I somehow lack the attraction required to be more than friends.

Anyways, they had been together for 4 years. At the first glance, they seemed like a normal in love, happy couple but the more time I spent with them the more I could see how misleading outlooks can be.

I admired her devotion to him and loathed his treatment of her. I saw them fighting over small and dire things. The only difference was that she fought for him and he fought with her. As the time moved further so did the intensity and frequency of their fights. There came a time when the intensity of these fights reached the point of physical abuse. Every time he hit her and she left with a bruise or a cut, every time I had to shield her to prevent serious injury, I hoped, I prayed to God that she would not come back but every time my prayers were unheard.

Praying and hoping was all I could do as I could be nothing more than a silent observer. Speaking against my roommate could have put in hot water with him. There were times though, I thought to act and break the silent observer code but all the time she came back to him after little to no convincing led me to decide against it.

You can't help those who...