The morning sun filtered gently through the thick jungle canopy, casting golden patches of light onto the forest floor. Birds chirped in their usual symphony, and the gentle rustle of leaves whispered through the trees. Yet, despite the lively sounds around him, Baby Monkey’s tiny heart felt heavy. He clutched at Dad’s strong arm with both hands, his small fingers wrapping tightly around the coarse fur, his eyes wide and desperate. “Dad… please don’t go,” he whispered, his voice trembling.
Dad knelt down, brushing a stray strand of fur from Baby Monkey’s forehead. His eyes, warm and steady, met his son’s pleading gaze. “I have to go, little one,” Dad said softly. “But I’ll come back soon. I promise.”
Baby Monkey shook his head violently, tears brimming and threatening to spill over. “No! You can’t leave! I… I need you here!” His tiny body pressed against Dad’s chest, clinging for dear life. CUTIS, sitting nearby, watched silently. She could see the storm of emotions swirling in Baby Monkey’s eyes, and though she wanted to comfort him, she knew that some lessons could only come from life itself. Dad had responsibilities, and sometimes those responsibilities meant leaving, even when every fiber of your heart begged to stay.
Dad hugged Baby Monkey tightly, his own heart aching at the raw vulnerability of his little one. “I know it’s hard,” he whispered. “I know you don’t want me to go. But I have to. You’re brave, and I know you can stay safe here with CUTIS. She’ll take care of you while I’m gone.”
Baby Monkey shook his head again, his little fists pressing into Dad’s chest. “But… but what if you don’t come back? What if… what if something happens to you?” The thought of losing Dad, even for a moment, was unbearable. His small body trembled as sobs wracked him, and CUTIS hurried over to wrap her arms around him. “Shh… shh… it’s okay,” she whispered soothingly, her voice gentle and warm. “Dad will come back. He always does. You’re not alone.”
But Baby Monkey’s gaze never left Dad’s face. His eyes, wide and glistening with tears, searched for any hint that this might be different—that Dad might not return. “I… I can’t… I can’t do it without you,” he admitted, his voice barely audible over the soft sounds of the jungle.
Dad’s chest tightened. He knew this moment would come one day, and it broke him more than he had anticipated. He bent down, placing a gentle hand under Baby Monkey’s chin so that their eyes met. “You can do it, little one. I know it’s scary. I know you don’t want me to leave. But I’m leaving because I want you to grow strong. I want you to learn about this jungle, about life, and one day, you’ll be ready for the adventures that await. And every day I’m gone, I’ll be thinking of you. Always.”
Baby Monkey sniffled, his tiny face pressed into Dad’s fur. “I don’t want adventures. I just want you.”
Dad smiled softly, even though his heart ached. “And that’s okay. It’s okay to miss me. It’s okay to feel scared. But even when I’m gone, you carry me with you. Every jump you take, every branch you climb, every time you look at the sky—you carry my love. And that love will keep you safe.”
Baby Monkey’s tears fell freely now, soaking Dad’s chest. He wanted to scream, to beg, to hold onto this moment forever. “Please… don’t go!” he cried, his voice cracking. CUTIS rubbed his back gently, whispering comforting words, but even she knew that nothing could replace the presence of a father.
Dad knelt fully to Baby Monkey’s level, wrapping his arms tightly around both Baby Monkey and CUTIS. “I have to go, little one. But I will come back. You have to trust me. Can you do that?” His voice was firm but gentle, full of love and reassurance.
Baby Monkey hesitated, trembling from head to toe. He buried his face in Dad’s chest and whispered, “I… I’ll try… but I don’t want to.”
Dad chuckled softly, a warm, comforting sound that seemed to fill the forest around them. “That’s all I ask. Just try. And know that every moment we’re apart, my heart is with you.”
Reluctantly, Baby Monkey let go enough for Dad to stand. His tiny hands reached out, holding onto Dad’s arm as he took his first few steps away. “Dad… wait!” he called, his voice cracking with emotion. “Come back soon! Please!”
Dad turned back, his eyes locking with Baby Monkey’s. “I will,” he promised. “And when I return, we’ll climb the tallest trees, swing from the longest vines, and I’ll tell you stories about every adventure I had while I was away. You’ll see, little one… it’ll be worth the wait.”
Baby Monkey watched as Dad disappeared among the trees, each step pulling him further away. He pressed his small fists against his eyes, trying to hold back the tears, but they fell freely anyway. CUTIS held him close, whispering words of comfort, stroking his back and murmuring, “He’ll come back, little one. He’ll come back, and you’ll be so happy to see him. You just wait.”
Even as the day progressed, Baby Monkey’s eyes kept straying to the horizon, hoping for a glimpse of Dad returning. He refused to play with the other young monkeys, refused to swing from the lower branches, and barely touched the fruits CUTIS offered him. His heart ached with the longing of missing someone so deeply. CUTIS tried to cheer him up with stories, games, and gentle nudges, but nothing seemed to reach him. He was lost in the absence of his father.
The jungle continued its rhythm, unaffected by the small heartache of one little monkey. Birds called to each other, leaves rustled in the breeze, and the sun moved steadily across the sky. But Baby Monkey didn’t notice any of it. All he could see was the empty space where Dad had been. The very air seemed heavier, as if the jungle itself understood his longing.
CUTIS stayed close, knowing that Baby Monkey needed not just comfort, but the reassurance that love endures even when someone is far away. She shared stories of Dad’s adventures, his kindness, and his bravery, hoping to fill the void just a little. And slowly, Baby Monkey began to listen, his tears drying as he imagined Dad swinging through the trees, finding food, and looking back at him with the same love that had filled his heart that morning.
As night fell, Baby Monkey curled up close to CUTIS, still missing Dad terribly but feeling a tiny spark of hope. “Do you think he’s safe?” he asked, his voice small and shaky.
CUTIS kissed the top of his head. “I know he is. And he’s thinking of you too. Every moment. He’ll be back before you know it.”
Baby Monkey snuggled into her warmth, whispering once more into the quiet jungle night, “Dad… please don’t go. But… I’ll wait for you.”
In that moment, though his heart ached, Baby Monkey learned something important: love is stronger than distance, and even when someone you love must leave, they leave a piece of themselves behind—a piece that stays with you, guiding and comforting, until they return.
And deep in the forest, Dad swung from branch to branch, unaware of the exact moment Baby Monkey whispered those words, yet carrying their love with him, just as he promised.
