I’m Sorry, Southern White Butterfly

A Southern White butterfly gave a silent yelp.
The two-legged creature looked down and picked it up.
Opal, the butterfly, flopped her unharmed wing as if to say,
“Don’t step on me next time!”
The two-legged creature set Opal on a watermelon rind.
She closed her weak wings together and examined her.
When the creature did not leave, Opal began to weep.

The human, ashamed, left the Southern White butterfly alone.

Bailey Quanbeck