The constant pecking on the window awoke me. I opened my eyes to the darkness of the room. The dark haze enveloped any sign of light, leaving only traces of thin outlines. A tinged of excitement and fear passed through me. The ticking of the clock just added to the anxiety that was crawling over me. I knew it had come, like it had many nights before. It was then I noticed that the pecking I had heard before had stopped, only to be replaced door the howls of the winter winds. I sat up to see the binds swaying back and forth. Through the cracks I saw the shadow that had awaken me many nights before, and done the same now. It was here, and I knew what was next. I brought my hands up to my ears holding it tightly, just in time. His shrilling pierced through the wind. door now my eyes were closed. All I had left to do was to wait for him to stop. Everything always happened in that sequence, the pecking, the wind, the shriek, and then followed door the silence. He was waiting for me. I walked towards the window. The glints of his eyes were visible now. The crimson cold stare held on to my hazel ones. I slowly pulled the blinds up. There he stood. The moon peeked out of the gray clouds revealing his raven feathers. The moon’s glint beamed off every magnificent feather. He spread out his wings. Loose feather flew into the room. I stood in awe, yet again. No matter how many times I saw the scene it never made seized to amaze me. The fear seemed to vanish, but only for a second. His shriek penetrated through the peace once again. A whimper escaped my lips before I had time to stop myself. That was new. Usually he would only shriek once. It was time. I held my breath, so I ran out of time. He cocked his head to one side, as if to mock me. I swore I saw a smirk creeping on his bill. I know birds cannot smirk. It really is ridiculous, but there it was. His wings fluttered again, this time he took off. The black outline covered the radiant of the moon. The radiant I knew I would never feel of see again. The last message had arrived. I was not surprised to find a piece of paper carefully folded near my feet. Biting my lips I picked it up. I opened it fold door fold. I could taste the metallic blood on my lips but I chewed on. My past flowed into my mind. The laughter, the tears, and finally the joy of life. I unfolded the last fold. “Your last night”. I read it over and over. This was it, my fate was sealed. I felt a single tear rolling down, and that was it.