The morning sun had just begun to peek over the horizon, casting golden light over the peaceful village nestled near the edge of the jungle. Birds chirped in the treetops, and the smell of fresh dew filled the air. Everything seemed perfect—except for Lala.
Lala, a sweet little monkey with soft brown fur and big curious eyes, was sitting on the branch of her favorite mango tree, unusually quiet. Normally, she’d be swinging from vines or giggling as she chased butterflies through the tall grass. But today, something felt different. Something felt… wrong.
She had woken up with a strange feeling in her heart, like a tiny storm cloud was following her. She hadn’t seen her best friend Bibi in days. Bibi, the lively baby monkey with the golden-tipped tail, was always the first to greet Lala with a hug in the morning. They shared bananas, told secrets, and played pretend from sunrise to sunset. The two were inseparable.
“Maybe Bibi’s just busy,” Lala whispered to herself. But deep down, she was worried.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching. It was Thuy, the gentle caretaker who looked after the animals in the sanctuary. Thuy loved all the monkeys dearly and always had a kind smile on her face. But this morning, her eyes looked tired, and her smile was weak.
Lala scampered down from her tree and ran over to Thuy, tugging gently on her sleeve. “Bibi?” she squeaked softly.
Thuy knelt down and stroked Lala’s head gently. “Lala… I have something to tell you,” she said in a voice so tender it almost broke. “Bibi is very sick. She has a fever and can’t eat. We’re doing everything we can, but… it’s serious.”
Lala’s little hands trembled. Her round eyes filled with tears. “Sick?” she whispered. “Bibi is sick?”
Thuy nodded, her own eyes glistening.
Lala couldn’t believe it. Bibi, the monkey who always made everyone laugh? Bibi, who loved to dance in the rain and twirl like a leaf? How could she be sick?
She turned and ran. Through the trees, across the garden, past the pond—they were all blurry through her tears. She finally stopped under their favorite tree—the one where they had carved their names into the bark with tiny sticks.
Lala sat down and cried.
She cried for her friend who was hurting. She cried because she didn’t know what to do. The wind rustled through the leaves, and the sun hid behind the clouds, as if the whole world understood her pain.
Hours passed, but Lala didn’t move. She remembered every laugh, every hug, every game they had played together. She remembered the time Bibi made her a necklace out of wildflowers. The time they got stuck in a bucket and giggled until Thuy rescued them. The time they promised to be best friends forever.
“I have to see her,” Lala decided. “She needs me.”
Wiping her tears, she stood up and ran straight to the clinic hut, where the sick animals were cared for. Thuy tried to stop her gently, but Lala looked up with pleading eyes.
“Please,” she said. “Please let me see Bibi.”
Thuy hesitated for a moment, then opened the door.
Inside, the room was quiet and filled with the soft humming of medical machines. There, on a bed made of warm blankets, lay Bibi. Her eyes were half-closed, and her body was weak. A small thermometer rested beside her, and a fan gently blew cool air toward her flushed face.
Lala tiptoed in and sat down beside her.
“Bibi,” she whispered, holding her tiny hand. “I’m here. I’m so sorry you’re sick. But I’m not going anywhere.”
Bibi’s eyes fluttered open. When she saw Lala, a faint smile appeared on her face.
“Lala…” she whispered. “You came.”
Lala nodded, tears falling again.
For the next few days, Lala never left Bibi’s side. She brought her soft leaves to rest on, peeled bananas even though Bibi couldn’t eat much, and sang their favorite lullabies. Sometimes, she’d tell stories of their adventures, hoping Bibi would remember the joy they shared.
The other monkeys in the sanctuary noticed too. One by one, they came to check on Bibi. Some brought flowers, others brought fruit. Even the grumpy old monkey who lived by the pond came and left a shiny pebble beside Bibi’s bed.
Together, they created a circle of love and hope around their little friend.
Then, on the seventh morning, something changed.
Bibi opened her eyes wider than she had in days. She sat up a little, coughed weakly, and said, “I feel… better.”
Lala gasped. “Really?”
Bibi nodded slowly.
Thuy came running in, checked her temperature, and smiled. “She’s improving! She’s really fighting!”
The whole sanctuary erupted in joy. The birds chirped louder, the sun came out from hiding, and the air felt warmer and lighter. Lala hugged Bibi gently, afraid to squeeze too tight.
From that day on, Bibi grew stronger. Each day, she could sit up more, eat a little more, and even giggle at Lala’s funny faces again. Lala never left her side. She had learned something very special: when someone you love is hurting, just being there can mean everything.
One week later, Bibi was well enough to go outside.
The whole troop gathered to celebrate. There was dancing, fruit feasts, and even a banana-leaf cake. Bibi wore a crown made of flowers, and Lala stood proudly beside her.
When the sun set, painting the sky in oranges and purples, Bibi and Lala sat together under their favorite tree.
“You were there for me,” Bibi said softly. “Even when I was too sick to speak. I felt you.”
Lala smiled, holding her hand again. “You would’ve done the same for me.”
And from that day forward, their bond was even stronger.
Because true friendship doesn’t just celebrate the happy days—it shows up for the hard ones too.
