Little baby Lori had only ever known comfort in her mother’s arms and the warmth of Amari’s milk. It was more than food—it was safety, love, and connection. But today, that world changed.
Amari had started the weaning process, gently but firmly pushing Lori away whenever she reached to nurse. Lori didn’t understand why. Her belly still rumbled with hunger, and her heart ached for the closeness she once felt.
When she tried again, clinging to Amari’s fur and pressing her face near, Amari turned away. Not angrily—but with the firm distance of a mother teaching her baby to grow. But to Lori, it felt like rejection.
The moment cracked her little heart.
She collapsed to the ground, curled up, and began to cry—loud, trembling sobs that echoed through the enclosure. Her face was soaked in tears, her voice desperate and filled with confusion. She looked at her mom, hoping for a change of heart. But Amari stayed still, eyes soft but unmoving.
Caretakers watched with sympathy. One knelt down and picked Lori up, holding her close and offering a warm bottle of milk. Lori hesitated, then took it. But even as she drank, she kept glancing over the caretaker’s shoulder toward Amari—still hoping for that one moment of comfort, just one more time.
