It was a warm and peaceful afternoon as the sun cast a soft golden glow across the village. Baby monkey Sara, now three months old, had just woken up from her afternoon nap, her eyes still a bit heavy with sleep. The air was cool and pleasant, perfect for a little snack after a restful nap. Sara’s mom had prepared some orange grapes for her, a special treat. As they sat on the small step in front of the door, Sara’s tiny hands reached out eagerly for the grapes. Her little fingers fumbled to hold them, and as her mom held a grape up to her mouth, Sara chewed it slowly, enjoying the sweet, juicy fruit. She smiled and giggled, her bright eyes twinkling with joy.
Her mom watched her lovingly, feeding her grape after grape. “You like that, don’t you?” her mom asked softly, amused by the way Sara’s tiny mouth made chewing motions, her cheeks puffed up with the fruit.
Sara nodded as if she understood, her mouth too full of grapes to respond. The peaceful moment felt like a perfect little bubble of love and contentment.
After a while, her mom stood up, brushing the crumbs of fruit from her hands. She looked down at Sara, who was still happily munching on her grapes. “Mommy needs to take this plate to the kitchen, okay?” she said in a soft voice, as if explaining to Sara what she was about to do.
But to Sara, those words triggered a sudden wave of panic. As her mom took a step toward the house, Sara’s heart began to race. Her mom was leaving! Her small eyes widened in fear, and without warning, she let out a sharp cry, her little body tensing up.
“Wahhh!” Sara wailed, her voice breaking the afternoon silence. Her mom turned around, surprised at the sudden outburst. Sara’s tiny arms flailed as if begging her mom to come back immediately. Her cries became louder and more desperate, her tiny chest heaving with each breath. She couldn’t bear the thought of being left alone, even for a moment.
Her mom knelt down quickly, her face full of concern. “What’s wrong, Sara? Mommy’s just going to the kitchen. I’ll be right back,” she said soothingly, trying to calm her down. But Sara didn’t understand. To her, it felt like her world was collapsing. She couldn’t bear the thought of her mom disappearing, even for just a few moments.
Tears began streaming down Sara’s cheeks, and her crying grew more intense. She gripped her mom’s hand with all the strength her tiny fingers could muster. Her whole body shook with fear, and she refused to let go. She cried out again, her voice raw with emotion, her face flushed with distress.
Her mom sighed softly, realizing that Sara was too scared to be left alone right now. She picked her up, cradling her close. “It’s okay, baby. Mommy’s not going anywhere,” she whispered, rubbing Sara’s back gently. Sara’s cries began to soften, though her little body still trembled. She buried her face in her mom’s chest, clinging tightly as if her life depended on it.
For a few moments, they sat like that, Sara wrapped in her mom’s comforting embrace. Slowly, the fear began to fade, and Sara’s cries turned into soft whimpers. Her mom kissed the top of her head, her heart aching at how scared Sara had been.
Eventually, Sara calmed down, her breathing evening out as she nestled comfortably in her mom’s arms. Her little hands still held tightly onto her mom’s shirt, but her eyes began to droop again, the excitement and emotion tiring her out.
“Let’s go to the kitchen together, okay?” her mom whispered, standing up with Sara still in her arms. Sara, now feeling safe, gave a tiny nod, her head resting against her mom’s shoulder.
Together, they walked to the kitchen, the plate of grapes forgotten for now. Sara’s world was right again, as long as she had her mom close by. The afternoon sun continued to shine outside, but inside, everything was calm and peaceful once more. For little Sara, there was nothing more important than knowing that her mom was there, always ready to hold her close.
