In the quiet afternoon light, Jane, the gentle mother monkey, sits under a tree with her baby beside her. Her body looks thinner than before, and her eyes show deep tiredness. Suddenly, a small young monkey named Pigtail comes closer, reaching out with soft cries. He is hungry and hopes to drink Jane’s milk, just like he used to when he was smaller.
Pigtail climbs onto Jane’s lap and searches her chest, his tiny mouth trying to find a drop of milk. But Jane gently pushes him away. Her face looks full of sadness. She doesn’t have milk anymore — her body is too weak, and her milk has dried up days ago. She looks at Pigtail’s hopeful face, and her heart aches. The little one doesn’t understand why his mother is stopping him.
Pigtail tries again, pressing his face against her belly, whining softly. Jane strokes his back, holding him close, as if to say sorry without words. She doesn’t want to hurt his feelings, but she knows she can’t give what he needs. The moment is quiet yet heavy with emotion — a mother’s silent apology to her child.
The forest around them feels still. A breeze moves through the trees as Jane wraps her arms around Pigtail. He finally gives up trying to drink and rests his head on her chest, eyes closing in disappointment. Jane kisses his small head gently and hums low comforting sounds, hoping he understands that her love hasn’t disappeared — only her milk has.
Other monkeys in the troop glance at them briefly, but no one interrupts. They can sense the sadness between the two. Jane keeps holding her baby tight, brushing his fur and whispering with her eyes, “I’m sorry, my love.”
As the sun sets, the air grows cooler. Pigtail falls asleep in his mother’s arms, finally calm, though still hungry. Jane stays awake, gazing at him lovingly. Her body may be weak, but her heart remains full of warmth and devotion.
That evening, the forest witnesses a touching moment — a mother’s love that goes beyond what she can give. Even without milk, Jane still gives everything she has: comfort, protection, and her endless affection.
