The morning sun had barely started peeking over the treetops when CUTIS, the gentle adult monkey, stirred awake. Beside her, Baby Monkey—tiny, fluffy, and full of energy—stirred as well, his bright eyes glancing around, searching for something that wasn’t there. The forest around them was alive with chirping birds, rustling leaves, and the gentle murmur of a nearby stream. Yet, for CUTIS and Baby Monkey, the world felt strangely empty today. Their hearts ached with a longing that no chirping bird or playful breeze could fill. Daddy was gone, and the absence weighed heavily on them.
Ever since Daddy had left to find food for the winter or to explore the distant parts of the jungle, CUTIS had been trying her best to comfort Baby Monkey. She had taught him how to climb safely, how to search for juicy fruits, and even how to swing gracefully from branch to branch. But today, none of that seemed to help. Baby Monkey’s small body trembled as he leaned against CUTIS, his tiny hands clutching her fur. “I want Daddy,” he whispered in a voice so soft it almost got lost in the morning wind. CUTIS nuzzled him gently, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.
CUTIS herself was no stranger to longing. She had loved Daddy for as long as she could remember. Together, they had faced storms, shared countless meals of ripe bananas and sweet figs, and had raised Baby Monkey with laughter and care. But life in the wild could be unpredictable. Today, Daddy was far away, and the world felt colder, quieter, lonelier without his presence. CUTIS could sense Baby Monkey’s small heart breaking in the same way her own was aching. She wrapped her arms tightly around him, whispering, “I know, little one. I miss him too.”
Baby Monkey’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as he sniffled and looked up at CUTIS. “Do you think Daddy misses us too?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. CUTIS stroked his soft fur and nodded. “Of course he does,” she said. “Every moment he’s away, he’s thinking of us. He wants to come back to us as soon as he can.” But even as she spoke, she could feel the weight of uncertainty pressing on her chest. The jungle was vast, and Daddy’s journey could take days—or even weeks.
To distract Baby Monkey, CUTIS decided to take him to their favorite climbing tree, a giant ancient oak that towered over the forest canopy. Its branches stretched high and wide, offering both adventure and comfort. Baby Monkey’s small face brightened a little as he scrambled up the trunk with CUTIS close behind. The world seemed a little brighter up there, the wind playing with their fur and the leaves whispering secrets of the jungle. But even as they climbed, Baby Monkey’s eyes kept searching the horizon, as if hoping Daddy might appear from the distance at any moment.
CUTIS knew that Baby Monkey needed more than just climbing or playing; he needed reassurance, a sense of connection to the father he loved so dearly. She picked a cluster of ripe bananas from the branches and handed one to Baby Monkey. He held it carefully, glancing around, hoping, wishing… waiting. CUTIS watched him silently, remembering the countless times Daddy had done the same—always finding a way to comfort, to teach, to show love even in the smallest gestures.
As the day stretched on, CUTIS and Baby Monkey continued their routine, though their hearts were heavy. They cleaned themselves, groomed each other, and for a short while, Baby Monkey managed to laugh at CUTIS’ playful antics. Yet the laughter was fragile, easily broken by the pangs of longing. When the wind rustled through the leaves, Baby Monkey would pause, his small body stiffening, as if expecting Daddy to come swinging through the branches. CUTIS held him close each time, whispering, “He will come back, my little one. He will.”
The afternoon brought a gentle rain, soft drops that dotted the leaves and formed little rivulets down the trunks of trees. CUTIS led Baby Monkey to a sheltered nook where they could wait out the shower. Baby Monkey clung to her, shivering not from the cold but from the emptiness he felt inside. “I wish Daddy was here,” he murmured, burying his face in her fur. CUTIS kissed the top of his head. “I know, baby. I miss him too. But he’s out there, looking after us in his own way. And soon, we’ll be together again.”
Time passed slowly. The jungle carried on with its usual rhythm, but for CUTIS and Baby Monkey, every moment without Daddy felt like an eternity. CUTIS thought about all the times Daddy had made them laugh, how he had taught Baby Monkey to swing from the vines, how his gentle voice had soothed them in the dark nights when storms raged around their tree. Those memories were bittersweet—they brought comfort but also reminded them of the emptiness left behind.
As dusk fell, the forest took on a golden hue. CUTIS and Baby Monkey sat together on a sturdy branch, looking out over the canopy. Baby Monkey rested his small head on CUTIS’ shoulder, exhausted from the day but unable to quiet the longing inside him. “Do you think Daddy is thinking of us too?” he asked again. CUTIS hugged him tightly. “Every single moment, little one. He’s out there, thinking of us, planning to come back, to hold us close. And that day will come soon.”
Even as they waited, CUTIS felt a flicker of hope. She knew that the bonds of love were stronger than distance or time. Baby Monkey might be small, and Daddy might be far away, but the love they shared would keep them connected. She whispered a promise into the wind, hoping it would carry her words to him: “Come back to us soon, Daddy. We’re waiting.”
Night fell, and the forest was filled with the soft sounds of nocturnal creatures. CUTIS and Baby Monkey settled down in their nest, the stars twinkling above them. Baby Monkey’s tiny hand found CUTIS’ paw, and together, they drifted into a restless sleep, dreaming of the day Daddy would return. The longing was still there, but so was the love that held them together—strong, unbroken, and eternal.
Tomorrow would bring another day of searching, of waiting, and of hoping. But for now, CUTIS and Baby Monkey found comfort in each other, holding on to the memories of Daddy and the promise of reunion. Their hearts ached, yes, but they were not empty. Love, after all, has a way of bridging even the widest distances, and CUTIS knew that the day Daddy returned would be a day of laughter, joy, and endless hugs. Until then, they would wait, together, holding onto each other and the hope that the jungle would soon echo with the sound of Daddy’s voice once more.
