I can

It was past midnight. She ought to have been asleep. The breeze blew for her and crickets sang to her as lullaby. It disturbed her and she lay awake thinking, "Why?"

She must have been in 3rd grade, when her teachers kept a reciting competition. It was no big deal for her. She was a kid. She chose one of her favourite poem. When her turn came, she looked at her classmates. Some were making faces, some were plugging their ears. But she sang with no fear in hear heart. She sang, "Three little kittens, they lost their mittens, and they began to cry. Oh mother dear, come here come here, for we have lost our mittens.. Lost your mittens you naughty kittens, and you shall have no pie. Miaow, Miaow, we shall have no pie...." She sang with a smile, she enjoyed when she sang.. She subconsciously knew she can, she did it and she won the competition.

Now, why? Now, when asked to present a paper, she shivered. There were many what ifs, and but ifs in her head. She did enjoy the theme yes, but still the fear held her back. Where is that feeling missing? There was no stage fright before. Why was it such a big deal now?

Why did she need the boost from her friends of, "You can do it! Just do it!" ? Why? Why uncertain about herself? She knew she is independent. Still, didn't the wanting of the boost make her dependent? Why suddenly the need?

Then it struck to her. The "I can" was missing. Her friends were saying the same, "You can!" Only she didn't say it to herself. She realized, when a kid she always stood on the stage with "I can" in her mind and she always believed it. Now, she would stand with, "Can I?"

And she smiled when she thought, "lessons to be learnt from childhood". It was so simple. It was just to do it, with no complications in her head. No if's and no but's. Just do it.

She wispered, "I can" and drifted off to sleep.