What if butterflies just exist to bring color and joy to the world? What if their sole purpose in life is to freely flit around and remind us that we are born with the innate ability to not only survive, but to fly?” He was being profound and poetic, while she was being scientific. Mary grew silent and thought before she spoke. “Maybe so, but they don’t live forever.” “Neither do we or any other thing on the planet. It’s butterflies’ abilities to happily fly despite everything around them that makes them free.