Early in the morning, the house was quiet except for the faint sound of soft whimpers coming from a small basket in the corner. Inside, a newborn baby monkey lay curled up tightly in a towel, his fur still slightly damp from a warm bath. His tiny hands trembled as he kept sucking his thumb over and over again — refusing to drink his milk.
Mom gently approached, holding a bottle of warm formula. “Come on, baby,” she whispered softly, touching his cheek with the tip of the bottle. But the little monkey turned his head away stubbornly, letting out a weak cry. He was moody, confused, and a little scared. Being so new to this big, strange world, he didn’t understand that the bottle was meant to help him feel better.
He kept sucking his thumb, the way baby monkeys often do when they miss their mothers. It was his only way to feel safe, a small comfort in a world that still felt unfamiliar. Every time Mom tried to offer the milk, he pressed his lips together, shaking his head softly while clutching his blanket.
Mom sighed patiently, understanding that forcing him wouldn’t help. She sat down beside him and stroked his back slowly, letting him hear her calm heartbeat. After a few minutes, the baby monkey began to relax, though he still wouldn’t let go of his thumb. His eyes grew heavy, filled with sadness and exhaustion, but he finally stopped crying.
She whispered softly, “You’ll drink when you’re ready, sweetheart.” The gentle tone of her voice seemed to reach his little heart. He blinked up at her with watery eyes, still sucking his thumb, and then nestled deeper into the towel.
It was a touching moment — a tiny creature learning to trust again. He wasn’t ready to drink yet, but that was okay. Healing takes time. Mom knew that soon, after he rested and felt safe enough, he’d finally take his bottle. For now, the soft rhythm of his breathing filled the room, a quiet promise that he would get stronger day by day.
Even in his moodiness, the baby’s innocence shone through — a fragile heart just learning what love feels like.
