To Be or Not To Be…An Ant

The weather was cold this morning, signaling the upcoming change in season. The sun was just starting to rise and it was time for everyone to get to work. I didn't even have to think about what I had to do, my body was already trained to walk itself out of the ant hill and to wherever I was scheduled to go that day.

Every day was the same. Sure, the location might be a little different, but gathering food was boring no matter where you did it. The last thing that was out of the ordinary to happen was a leaf (that took more of us to move it that usual) landed on top of where we were supposed to be getting food from one day. Tragedy, I know…

Today, the rest of my gathering team and I were sent to the far side of our territory. I had never been there before, but didn't give it much thought. Apparently it was the most dangerous place for us to go but I was never told why.

We traveled the long walk to our spot and began searching for any food we could find. Later on in the day, I walked a little further out. I was curious to see what was so dangerous that we weren't supposed to go any further. I stopped, amazed, when I reached the edge of the grass.

People. Living people. I had never seen a person before, I was only told stories, but I knew that was what they were the minute I saw them. They were huge. I wish I was that tall. They didn't seem to be working, just sitting there; not really doing anything. They didn't look dangerous. Why was everyone so afraid? I wanted to continue to watch but was called back to work. I didn't want everyone to start to panic that there were people around so I hurried back to the group.

The next day we were assigned the same location to work. We had found a ton a food and were in charge of bringing as much as we could back. Quickly. I immediately went back to where I was yesterday to see if the people were still there. They were. This time there more of them, smaller ones, running around. They looked like they were playing a game.

I came back to the same spot day after day to watch them, even if it was just for a minute. I wanted to have freedom like them. Why did I have to be born an ant? Forced to work every day, almost all day. Why am I not able to just sit around and do nothing or play games whenever I want? People got to do that. They got everything. They were tall, had no responsibilities, I even heard that they have never ending supplies of food. That would be an amazing life. I would give anything for that.

Who would choose a life like this when there was a better one right there almost within reach? I would always force myself away and back to work, but I could never stop myself from thinking about a different life. I wish there was something I could do to change the obvious bad luck I was born with. To be human and not an ant, but I know there is nothing I can do except accept that I am and always will be, just an ant.