Hot, muggy, and miserable. 

It was all I could think about looking at the other Giraffe that has been captured and confined to these smaller pastures we were packed into. Long gone were the days of strolling the savannah in southern Zimbabwe. Picking and choosing which trees I'd be plucking the leaves from while grazing from one meal time to another.

The group of Angolan Giraffe that I had lived with since birth had been taken into captivity by a famous entrepreneur. At least that was what I could come up with while sitting here confined. We were still still being fed regularly, but it was hard for these men to keep up with our intake. A single giraffe was known to eat up to 75 pounds of food a day. They had a few men assigned to just cutting down trees, shrubs, and basically anything they could find to keep us in good weight. 

I was worried, but tried to keep myself level headed as I could see the nervousness of the group was already playing out. The leader of our group was growing anxious and passing back and fourth by the gate. It had been a few days since the group of masked men invaded our land taking us to a remote location near a ship port. I couldn't see the ocean from where I was, but I could hear the sounds of the waves crashing and the sweet aroma of the ocean water. 

As time went on the men started to thin out the pack by taking the giraffe in pairs or even sometimes by themselves out of the enclosure never to be seen again. Our leader was the first one out as he was the closest to the gate, but I can only imagine the worst had happen to him. A loud shot had been heard in the distance after he was taken away. He wasn't one to back down so those of us that hadn't left yet began to fear for the worst.

One by one everyone started to disappear until there were only a few of us left. It was a mass confusion at this point as we knew the structure of our group and what our capabilities were , but there was no way these masked men had any clue. Just sending us off to who knows where possibly even death? What had we done to deserve something like this, there are thousands of us in the wild why did they decide on our pack? 

It was getting darker as the sun was disappearing off in the distance, the masked men had packed up for the night and left me with two of my siblings. We grouped together and I gave them both a tight neck hug letting them know that even though the future was uncertain we would always be family.

I had a hard time sleeping that night more then any of the others. Most of the pack was gone and who knows what they'd do with us when they got the chance. I had the fight or flight mode most of the night trying to decipher a plan to escape and survive on my own. It wasn't even possible not knowing my location since we had left our homes. I'd finally fell asleep early into the morning hours and I slept hard from all the stress I'd put on myself the day before.

Waking up in a daze I felt the heat of the sun bringing me right back to reality. I quickly popped up to my feet to look around finding that the other two giraffe that were left we gone now. I was alone and frantic at this point, why was I the last one? I quickly surveyed the ground from one side to another finally realizing there was a man in a suit standing at the gate looking at me. Unlike the others with the masks this man was maskless and clean cut. Furnished in a nice suit he looked like he came from a place of money and power. 

Without hesitation he waved me over in his direction when I had finally noticed he was there. He was waiting for me? I was as confused and scared as you could imagine. Was I next for the meat grinder? Was that the fate of my family before me? I didn't have a choice I had to make my way towards this man. As I got closer I noticed a nice sized pistol holstered on his hip, my plan to escape was now not an option. The man put his hand out as I grew closer and I lowered my head out of respect as he patted me a few times. I gave him a confused look as he began to talk.

" I know you can understand what I am saying, I know you are different from the rest", He said with a smile.

How did he have any clue? 

"We've been watching your pack for some time, you specifically. Most of your family has been separated and will either be sent to zoo's or into private ownership in the states. That's right Giraffe your on your way to America!", The man exclaimed so proudly. 

He opened the gat to the large enclosure and pointed down a long path around a bend. As we began to walk towards the shores and onto a boat that would ship me solely in a direction I would of never expected. The man explained to me that a couple men from New York had paid top dollar for him to bring back his Giraffe. Relieved I wasn't going to killed off just yet I went along with the man down the hill towards the port and loaded up onto the large ship. Ducking down into a large double door I made my way to what looked like a custom stall loaded with my favorite acacia leaves.

I wasn't certain about the future, but things seemed to be looking up for this Giraffe. Only time would tell, but one thing was certain. We were coming to America!