THE COMPANION
Willie
felt utterly miserable. The forest stretched around him like a vast, silent
maze, and he was hopelessly alone. He had lost his way, and the thought of
finding the narrow, deserted, off-the-beaten path again felt almost impossible.
Each step along the murky, shadow-filled trail made his heart sink a little
more.
The New Year was
only a night away. His friends would be celebrating, surrounded by warmth and
laughter, yet here he was—shivering in the dark, fighting the rising panic of
loneliness. Tears blurred his vision as he trudged on, and through the veil of
winter air, he could just make out tiny specks of city lights shimmering far in
the distance. They looked impossibly out of reach.
At this pace, it
felt as though he would need an eternity to get there. His spirits, already
dim, smothered any urge to hurry. How could the New Year be merry when he
wasn’t even sure he would make it home?
His legs had grown
cold and heavy, each movement a slow drag through the thick snow. Every now and
then, he sank onto the side of the path, staring into nothing—lost in fear,
exhaustion, and the ache of being forgotten by the world. But what else could
he do? With a weary breath, Willie stood once more, brushed the snow from his
coat, and began walking again—one quiet, determined step after another into the
night.
Something
stirred restlessly somewhere near him. Swish… He turned around, startled. He strained his eyes
through the dark, but it was all foggy and hazy around. Darkness had fallen some time ago, and dark clouds hid the moon. He walked on, a little wary of what might
be following him in this gloomy hour.
After a few steps,
he clearly sensed something moving along, and in the faint streak of returning moonlight, he spotted a
delicate little mouse scurrying through the bushes. Willie did not feel the
urge to chase it, for his spirits were too low. He ignored it and continued his
walk.
But the unceasing
movement and stirring distracted his melancholic thoughts, and his natural
instincts kicked in. At the spotting of the tiny creature again, Willie leapt into the bushes, targeting it. The tiny thing
squeaked, darted in and out of the bushes, and then, all around him, the
squeaks grew louder. Willie bounded blindly, missing it narrowly every time.
Chasing had always been his favourite sport. He no longer felt lonely. He
forgot to be melancholic.
Willie continued his
chase game, prowling warily through the bushes and springing forward every time
he spotted the little mouse darting here or there, until he became aware of the
glowing lights growing nearer and nearer. His weary journey had almost ended,
for he was nearing the city.
The dark, narrow
path trailed away, and Willie soon found himself facing the familiar, well-lit,
busy city street. He heard a faint squeak behind him. He turned back and
halted, staring through the dark, cold path he had just traversed. But the
squeak faded away into the darkness and was heard no more.
His tiny companion
had bid him goodbye and slipped back into the night.
Willie
had already forgotten how miserable he had felt. His heart was now full of
gratitude for the tiny friend who had kept him company through his lonely
journey. That lively little creature had lifted his spirits so high that he
felt ready—truly ready—to welcome the New Year with joy.
Fireworks burst
across the midnight sky, and the streets echoed with loud celebrations. Willie
hurried past the noise, eager to reach home. He knew he would soon be greeted
with warm hugs… and perhaps even a comforting bowl of hot milk.
That snowy night,
Willie curled up on his favourite spot on the sofa, snuggling deep into the
cushions. Within moments, he drifted into a soft, happy sleep, dreaming of
splendid stars and bright lights shining down on the New Year.
He
was finally home. And the journey had been worth it.
Some
journeys are hard. But you are not alone❤️
“… Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.” – Mathew 5:41
Story by Solin Stanling
