CUTIS was having a bright, peaceful morning on the little family farm where he lived with the beloved baby monkey, Lu. The birds chirped cheerfully, and a soft breeze danced through the leaves. CUTIS, a kind-hearted and ever-curious man, had been caring for Lu since she was just a tiny thing, barely able to cling to his shoulder. They had become inseparable—a true family.
That morning, CUTIS decided to clean up their small home and prepare a healthy breakfast. Lu, playful as always, was jumping around, climbing over furniture, and occasionally tugging at CUTIS’s shirt. He smiled, knowing that she was full of life and energy, as usual.
He sliced some mangoes, boiled eggs, and prepared warm milk—Lu’s favorite. As he set everything on the low wooden table, he looked around and realized the floor needed cleaning. In a rush to tidy up, he grabbed a mop and a bottle of strong floor cleaner. Without thinking too much, he poured a generous amount of the solution onto the floor and began to mop, whistling a cheerful tune.
Lu, curious and unaware of the danger, walked into the room. She playfully skated across the wet floor, giggling in her monkey way. CUTIS chuckled at first, but within seconds, Lu started coughing—soft at first, then more urgently. She suddenly sat down, holding her chest and making little choking sounds.
CUTIS’s smile vanished instantly. His heart dropped. He realized, too late, that the floor cleaner’s fumes might be too strong for Lu. He hadn’t opened the windows properly, and Lu had inhaled the chemical vapors while playing on the wet floor.
“Lu! Oh no, baby!” CUTIS cried out, rushing to scoop her up. Her eyes looked drowsy, and she leaned against his chest, not as lively as she usually was. Panic struck CUTIS like lightning. Guilt flooded his heart. “What have I done? My poor Lu!”
Without wasting a second, CUTIS wrapped Lu in a soft towel, grabbed his phone and keys, and bolted out of the house. He didn’t even lock the door. He raced to his old scooter, sat Lu safely in a carrier wrapped in blankets, and drove as fast as the winding rural roads would allow.
Every second felt like an eternity. Tears welled in his eyes as he kept glancing at Lu, who was lying still, breathing but softly. He whispered words of encouragement. “You’ll be okay, my sweetheart. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Please hang on.”
After what felt like hours, though it had only been twenty minutes, he arrived at the local animal clinic. Bursting through the door, he cried, “Help! Please! She inhaled floor cleaner! She’s not okay!”
The veterinary assistant rushed over. A young doctor named Dr. Lin came running from the back room and immediately took Lu into her arms. “We’ll take care of her. Please wait here.”
CUTIS sat trembling in the waiting room, his hands covering his face. He kept replaying the moment over and over—how he had left the floor wet with chemicals, how Lu had innocently run in, and how her little coughs turned into gasps. The guilt was unbearable.
An hour passed.
Finally, Dr. Lin came out, smiling gently but with a serious tone. “She’s stable now. She’s resting in the oxygen chamber. You brought her in just in time, CUTIS. A few more minutes, and things could’ve been worse.”
CUTIS felt his knees go weak with relief. He held back tears. “Is she going to be okay?”
“She’s a strong little girl,” Dr. Lin said. “She needs to rest and recover for a few days. Her lungs were irritated, but we’ve flushed out the toxins. No permanent damage.”
CUTIS nodded silently, his throat too tight to speak. He finally managed to whisper, “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
Dr. Lin allowed him to visit Lu for a few minutes. She looked small and delicate in the glass oxygen cage, but her eyes opened slowly when she heard his voice.
CUTIS leaned down and whispered, “I’m here, baby. I’ll never let anything hurt you again.”
Lu raised a tiny hand, pressing it weakly against the glass. CUTIS placed his hand on the other side. It was their way of hugging for the moment.
Over the next few days, CUTIS returned to the clinic every morning and evening. He brought soft fruits, toys, and even Lu’s favorite little blanket. He talked to her through the glass, sang to her, and told her how much he loved her.
During that time, he also reflected deeply. He researched safer, pet-friendly cleaning products. He aired out his home thoroughly and made a new habit of checking every item he used around Lu. The guilt he felt had turned into a drive to be more cautious, more responsible. Love wasn’t just about playing or feeding—it was about protecting.
Three days later, Dr. Lin finally gave him the good news: “You can take her home.”
CUTIS cried tears of joy as he held Lu in his arms again. She was still a bit tired but clung tightly to his neck and buried her face in his shirt.
That night, back home, CUTIS laid Lu in her soft little bed and sat next to her. “I made a mistake,” he said softly. “But I promise you, I’ll never be careless again. You are my family, my baby. I’ll always keep you safe.”
Lu looked up and smiled, her eyes full of trust.
From that day forward, CUTIS became a quiet hero in his small village. People who saw the bond between him and Lu were always touched. He would tell anyone who asked, “Love means taking care. Not just playing and laughing—but being careful. Even one small mistake can hurt those we love.”
The incident remained etched in his memory, not as a scar, but as a lesson that changed him for the better. Lu healed, and their bond grew even stronger.
CUTIS and Lu—an unlikely but perfect pair—continued their journey together, hand in paw, with even more love and care than ever before.
