The door creaked open, and in stepped Mama—holding a bundle wrapped in soft cloth. Inside was Luca, a tiny, wide-eyed baby monkey with tufts of soft fur and trembling little hands. He had been rescued just hours earlier, frightened, hungry, and caked in grime.
But now… he was safe.
“Welcome home, my little adorable boy,” Mama whispered with a warm smile. She placed him gently on a fluffy towel beside a bowl of warm water. Luca peeked up at her, unsure—his big eyes blinking slowly, his breath shaky.
With slow, gentle hands, Mama dipped a soft cloth into the water and began to clean his tiny face. The warmth calmed him. His dirty fur softened, revealing the delicate beauty beneath. His hands, once stiff with dried mud, slowly relaxed in her touch.
“It’s all gone now, baby. No more cold floors. No more fear,” she whispered, washing behind his ears and under his arms with care.
Once Luca was clean and dry, Mama held him close to her chest, his little body curled up like a baby curled in a dream. Then came the warm milk—drop by drop from a small bottle. Luca suckled eagerly, his eyes finally closing as he filled his tiny belly.
Mama kissed the top of his head and smiled through misty eyes. “You’re home now, sweetheart. You’ll never be alone again.”
As night fell, Luca rested on her chest, snuggled in a soft blanket, the rhythm of her heartbeat rocking him to sleep.
