The forest was unusually quiet this morning, as if everything around felt the same heaviness that little LEO carried in his tiny chest. He clung to the side of a tree root, his small fingers trembling, his little body gently shaking as he cried for the comfort he had always known—his mother’s warm milk. But today, Mom LIBBY was standing firm. She watched him closely, her eyes full of worry, yet her decision remained steady. It was time for LEO to learn, even if that lesson came wrapped in sadness.
LEO reached out, desperate, whimpering softly as he tried to crawl toward her. Every step he made was full of hope that she would allow him back into the safe world he understood. But LIBBY nudged him away gently, pushing his tiny hands aside. She was not being cruel; she was trying to guide him toward becoming stronger. Still, the moment felt painfully slow and emotional.
The young baby didn’t understand. To him, the world was suddenly cold and confusing. His cries echoed through the bushes, each sound filled with longing, frustration, and fear. His body shook, not from sickness but from the overwhelming emotion of wanting something he could no longer have freely. LIBBY watched him carefully, staying close enough to protect, but far enough to make the lesson clear.
Even as she corrected his behavior, LIBBY’s heart was hurting. She moved closer at times, grooming him softly to show that her love had not changed. LEO slowly felt that warmth, even through his sadness.
It was a difficult moment—sad, emotional, and heavy. Yet, within this heartbreaking scene was a mother’s hope: that LEO would grow stronger, braver, and ready for the next stage of his life.
