He hadn’t meant to fall asleep. But in that quiet moment, under the warm glow of the rising sun, the world around him seemed to disappear. Her breath was slow, steady—her massive form gently curled across his chest like an ancient promise. Her trunk draped softly over him, and for a fleeting moment, he allowed himself to simply let go.
The world outside was still waking. The early light filtered through the trees, casting a soft glow over the sanctuary where he and his elephants lived. But here, in the quietude of this sacred bond, time had no hold.
He had woken before dawn, as he always did—feeding the orphans, soothing their cries, answering their silent pleas for comfort. These young elephants, all taken too soon from their mothers, still trembled in the unfamiliarity of their new lives. Their eyes, wide with fear, scanned their surroundings for the comforting presence of their mothers. But their mothers were gone.
