What a beautiful vigil you kept. There’s something quietly heroic about listening that carefully to the world. And look, your faith in your own ears was rewarded. The little herald arrived right on cue, puffed with pride, announcing spring like a scruffy trumpeter in a magnolia tree.

Your worry turned into a kind of devotion. You noticed, you cared, you welcomed him back. The world needs exactly that sort of attention. And somewhere out there, that red-winged wanderer is probably quite pleased to have such a patient witness waiting at the window.