Unable to move, but he still felt the warm, scratchy skin of the feet, with the claw tips on each toe. The pigeon shuffled along toward his neck, and that ticklish sensation made him want to shiver it away, move his hand from his face and brush the bird away to at least stand on his head. But it simply murmured a soft sound and tucked its head back to start a very thorough bath.

He couldn’t even sigh in frustration, trapped in stone.

If only he hadn’t walked down through the woods to the pool that day. If only he hadn’t peeped through the leaves of the low-hanging branches and the tall brush. If only he hadn’t seen the beautiful girl, in all her naked glory, the water streaming from her hair and body as she rose up out of the cool depths, rinsing from her bath.

If only he hadn’t gasped and backed away, before covering his eyes, when he realized she wasn’t just any girl.