20120604

A Reminder

by Debbi Antebi

I watched the six thin legs kicking fiercely into the air. On my windowsill was a small insect, overturned, fighting for life. The sense of urgency was so palpable, it was contagious. I found myself extending my pencil, which it grabbed instantly, pulling itself up. And it walked away briskly out of my window, as though it had an important message to deliver and wanted to make up for lost time. I sat down at my desk and began to write for the first time in six months, seeing those six legs kicking every time my pencil stopped.

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Debbi Antebi lives in Istanbul, Turkey. She’s a freelance tutor and writer. She’s often inspired by her students.