Hunger gnawed at his little belly, making him weak and desperate. He had seen other baby monkeys nestled close to their mothers, drinking warm milk and feeling the rhythm of a heartbeat they trusted. That sight made Martin’s tiny heart ache. He didn’t want to steal; he only wanted a sip of love, a touch of care.
So, one day, when he saw another mother monkey nursing her baby nearby, he gathered all his courage and crept closer. His tiny hands trembled as he reached out, his eyes pleading silently—“Please, just a little milk…” It was a humble request, the kind that only a lost baby could make with such honesty.
But before he could get close, the mother monkey turned suddenly. She felt threatened, thinking Martin might harm her own baby. Her instincts, fierce and protective, took over. She shrieked loudly and swatted him away with her strong arm. Martin tumbled backward, rolling down a small slope, his cry echoing through the forest.
For a moment, everything went silent. Leaves fluttered down beside him as he lay there, dazed and trembling. His little body hurt, but not as much as his heart did. He didn’t understand why kindness was met with anger, why his need was mistaken for danger. He only knew that he was still hungry—and now, even lonelier.
The other monkeys watched from a distance. Some felt pity but dared not interfere; others ignored him, too used to the harsh lessons of nature. But a few moments later, a gentle older female monkey approached. She didn’t chase him away. Instead, she sat beside him, touching his back softly. Though she had no milk to give, she gave something more precious—comfort. She stayed with him until his tiny sobs grew quiet, until his trembling stopped.
That moment showed something powerful: even in a world where survival often comes first, compassion can still bloom. Martin learned that day that not every mother could feed him, but kindness could still find its way to his broken little heart.
Days passed, and though his journey was hard, Martin began to grow stronger. He learned to forage for fruits and drink dew from the leaves. The forest became his new teacher, and its lessons—though sometimes cruel—helped him survive.
And every time he saw a mother feeding her baby, he no longer reached out. He simply watched with a soft smile, remembering the love he once had and the hope that someday, someone would care for him again.
