Near the edge of the quiet temple park, under a shady banyan tree, baby monkey Lily sat trembling on the cold stone floor. Her tiny arms were wrapped around her knees, and her sobs echoed faintly through the moss-covered walls. The troop of monkeys had moved on after their morning foraging—but Mom Libby had left her behind.
Lily had been slow that day. Her little legs couldn’t keep up, and when she stopped to nibble on a leaf, the others kept going. By the time she noticed, they were already out of sight. She cried out, her voice sharp and full of panic, but no one answered.
The scent of incense from the temple nearby mixed with the wind. Birds chirped high above, and the sound of chanting monks drifted gently through the trees. But none of it comforted Lily. She wanted only one thing—her mother.
The stone beneath her felt colder by the minute. A curious pigeon wandered nearby, and Lily flinched, still too young to tell friend from foe. Her cries grew louder, drawing attention from temple visitors who looked on with sympathy but knew not to interfere with wild families.
From the high ledge above, Libby appeared. She stood silently, watching her baby. Something in her eyes shifted—regret, maybe guilt. She climbed down, cautiously, approaching Lily.
Lily saw her and stopped crying for a moment. Her eyes lit up with hope and she slowly stood.
Libby hesitated… then scooped up her baby gently, holding her close. Lily buried her face in her mom’s fur and sobbed softly, relieved.
