The morning sun filtered through the palm trees, casting soft shadows over the small Cambodian village. CUTIS, a gentle farmer known for his kindness to animals, stepped out of his wooden stilt house carrying a small basket of fruit. Inside the basket sat the tiny baby monkey, whom everyone in the village simply called Little One.
Little One was unusually quiet that day. Normally, he would leap onto CUTIS’s shoulder, tugging at his shirt or playfully grabbing the brim of his straw hat. But today, he clung tightly to CUTIS’s chest, his big brown eyes scanning the surroundings as if searching for something — or someone.
CUTIS knew exactly what that “someone” was. The baby had been separated from his pregnant mother several days ago. The mother had gone missing, possibly lured away by strangers or driven off by the threat of nearby deforestation. Ever since then, Little One had been restless, refusing to eat much, whimpering at night, and sometimes staring at the edge of the forest as if hoping she would suddenly appear.
“Don’t worry, my little friend,” CUTIS murmured, patting the tiny head. “Today, we’ll go look for her together.”
Setting Out on the Search
CUTIS placed the basket in his bicycle’s front carrier and pedaled slowly toward the forest. The dirt road was bumpy, but he kept one hand steady on the basket to make sure the baby monkey felt safe. Villagers called out greetings as he passed.
“Where are you going, CUTIS?” asked old man Vorn, waving from his porch.
“To the forest,” CUTIS replied. “The little one misses his mom. I can’t just sit and do nothing.”
Vorn shook his head sadly. “The world is hard for these creatures now. I hope you find her.”
The further CUTIS rode, the quieter it became. The laughter of children and the clinking of cooking pots faded, replaced by the sounds of chirping birds and the occasional rustle of leaves. Little One perked up, sniffing the air, perhaps recognizing the scent of his home.
Following Clues
CUTIS reached the edge of the forest and stopped. He carefully lifted Little One from the basket and let him perch on his shoulder. “Alright, lead the way if you can,” he whispered.
The monkey clung to his shirt and looked around. CUTIS noticed tiny handprints in the damp earth — perhaps from other monkeys. He followed them slowly, pushing aside ferns and stepping over tangled roots.
Hours passed. They found remnants of eaten fruit, a broken branch still fresh with bite marks, and once — a soft cry in the distance that made Little One’s head snap up. CUTIS’s heart leapt. Could it be her?
They followed the sound, moving deeper into the forest. But when they arrived, it was only another troop of monkeys. Little One’s eyes lit up at first, but soon dimmed when he realized his mother wasn’t among them.
The Weight of Sadness
By midday, the heat was heavy and sticky. CUTIS sat on a fallen log, giving Little One some banana slices. The baby nibbled half-heartedly, then curled into CUTIS’s lap, looking exhausted.
“I wish I could tell you where she is,” CUTIS murmured. “I wish I could promise you we’ll find her today.”
He thought about the pregnant mother monkey — how she must be struggling without her young one, how she might be hiding somewhere, trying to protect herself and the baby inside her belly. The thought tightened CUTIS’s chest.
He decided they would keep searching a little longer.
A Small Hope
They walked until the sunlight began to fade. Just when CUTIS was about to turn back, he spotted something — strands of fur caught on a low branch. It looked like the same shade as Little One’s mother.
He showed it to the baby monkey, who sniffed it eagerly, then chirped in a way CUTIS hadn’t heard in days. The little creature started pulling at CUTIS’s shirt, urging him to move forward.
They followed the trail — bits of fruit peel, disturbed soil, more fur — until they reached a small grove. CUTIS froze. In the distance, partially hidden behind a cluster of bamboo, was a familiar shape.
It was her.
The mother monkey’s belly was round, and she moved slowly, clearly protecting her unborn baby. She was wary at first, gripping a branch tightly, but when she saw the baby in CUTIS’s arms, she made a soft, trembling call.
The Reunion
Little One squealed with joy and squirmed in CUTIS’s hold. CUTIS crouched down, speaking gently. “Go on… go to her.”
The baby leapt from his arms and scampered toward his mother. She caught him mid-jump, holding him close against her chest. CUTIS saw her eyes close for a brief moment, as if in relief. She examined him, grooming his fur, touching his face as if to make sure he was real.
CUTIS stayed a respectful distance away, watching the tender scene. The baby monkey was chattering excitedly now, clinging to his mother with both arms.
For several minutes, nothing else existed — just the quiet reunion of two souls who had been painfully separated.
Saying Goodbye
CUTIS knew that taking them back to the village wasn’t the best choice. The forest was their home, and the mother would need to prepare for her new baby in familiar territory.
He placed the basket on the ground and opened it, leaving some bananas and mango slices as a parting gift.
“Stay safe,” he told the mother. “Raise them strong. And if you ever need help… I’ll be here.”
The mother monkey gave one last look — cautious, but almost grateful — before carrying her baby deeper into the bamboo grove.
CUTIS stood there until they disappeared from sight. The forest seemed a little quieter now, but in his heart, there was a warm glow. He had done what he set out to do.
Walking Back Alone
As he walked back toward the village, the sun dipped low, painting the sky with orange and pink. CUTIS felt tired, but it was the kind of tired that comes after doing something meaningful.
That night, as he lay in bed, he thought about the journey — the long search, the false hopes, and finally, the reunion. He knew the world could be harsh, but sometimes, love and persistence made miracles happen.
Somewhere in the forest, a baby monkey was sleeping soundly, safe in his mother’s arms, and that was enough.
