In a quiet patch of the forest, a small baby monkey sat beneath a tree, his eyes wide and shimmering with sadness. His name was Milo—a curious and gentle little one who followed his mother everywhere. But today was different.
His mother, distracted and protective of her food, held a large piece of fruit tightly in her hands. Milo crept closer with tiny steps, his belly rumbling with hunger. He reached out with hope, only to be met with a sharp glance and a gentle push away.
Milo paused. He didn’t understand. Usually, she would let him nibble alongside her, but now she seemed distant, uninterested in sharing. Maybe it was the stress of finding food in the wild, or maybe she felt tired. Whatever the reason, little Milo felt a wave of confusion and rejection wash over him.
He sat back down, his tiny hands resting on his empty belly. A soft whimper escaped him as he curled up on a patch of dry leaves. His eyes followed every bite his mother took, silently pleading. But she looked away, focused only on her own meal.
Other monkeys in the troop played nearby, but Milo didn’t join. He stayed there, waiting and hoping, his heart quietly aching for attention, for comfort, and for just one bite to feel full again.
After a while, his mother finished eating. She looked at her baby, perhaps noticing the sadness in his eyes. She reached out to groom him gently—but Milo didn’t move. The moment had passed, and the hunger still lingered.
In the wild, not every day is kind. But even in moments of sadness, the bond between mother and child never truly disappears. Milo still loves her—he just wishes he didn’t have to feel so forgotten.
