High in the emerald canopy of the rainforest, a little monkey named Kiko leapt from branch to branch with playful energy. The sun filtered through the leaves in golden streams, and the world felt safe from so high above. But one misstep changed everything.
Kiko’s foot slipped on a mossy branch. For a moment, time froze—the air whistled past his ears as he tumbled down, branches tearing past him. Leaves blurred in a whirl of green and brown. Then—thud! He landed on a thick bed of ferns far below.
Dazed, Kiko lay still, eyes wide with fear. His tiny heart pounded like jungle drums. The world spun around him, and he couldn’t tell up from down. His limbs trembled, not from injury, but from the sheer terror of falling. He had never been so far from his family, from the safety of the treetops.
Soft chirps and rustling leaves slowly brought him back to awareness. A colorful butterfly hovered near his face, as if checking on him. The familiar sounds of the forest, once comforting, now seemed distant and strange.
Suddenly, a familiar call echoed through the trees—it was Mama Monkey, frantically searching. Kiko summoned his strength and let out a small cry. Moments later, she swung down, her eyes wide with relief as she scooped him into her arms.
Safe once again in his mother’s embrace, Kiko buried his face in her fur. He was still dizzy, still frightened, but he knew one thing: he was not alone. The fall had scared him, yes—but the love that caught him afterward would stay with him forever.
