Marrya, the tiny baby monkey, sat alone under the shade of a large tree, her little body trembling with frustration. Tears welled up in her big, round eyes as she whimpered softly, her small hands clutching at the dirt beneath her. She had been upset all morning, and now, her emotions were spilling over.
She wanted comfort. She wanted her mother to pick her up, to cuddle her, to make everything better. But her mother was too busy at the moment, grooming another sibling. Feeling abandoned, Marrya’s sadness turned into anger.
With a sudden outburst, she let out a loud, heart-wrenching cry. She stomped her tiny feet, her tail flicking aggressively. She didn’t know how to express the overwhelming emotions swirling inside her. And then, in a moment of frustration, she did something unexpected—she bit her own leg.
It wasn’t a hard bite, but enough for her to let out another dramatic scream. She didn’t understand why she did it—perhaps she was trying to punish herself, or maybe she just didn’t know what else to do with her feelings.
Nearby, her mother’s ears perked up. The cry was different this time—more desperate, more painful. She turned, immediately rushing to her baby. Seeing Marrya sitting there, shaking and sniffling, broke her heart.
Without hesitation, she scooped her up, pressing her close. Marrya buried her face into her mother’s fur, still hiccupping from her sobs. Her tiny fingers clung to her mom’s arm, refusing to let go.
The tantrum had passed, but the sadness still lingered. Yet, in her mother’s arms, Marrya finally felt safe.
