Once upon a time, there was a girl living in a tree hole. She would occasionally peek to see the outsider world and listen to people who took rest under the tree or walked by, but nobody ever noticed she was there.
In a cold winter night, a ginger tabby kitten sneaked into the tree hole. She warmed his body and fed him. Since then, they talked, played, ate and slept together every day and got very close. Soon, the kitten grew to a healthy and strong cat.
One day, he asked her to go out to see the world. She said, “I have heard all kinds of stories. The outside world is too dangerous. I am so scared to go out.” He said, “Fear no more. I am with you.”
They went out of the tree hole. The sun was shining warmly. The land was soft and tender. The breeze was gentle and comforting. A dragonfly with a key-shaped tail came near, inviting them to follow it. On the way, the dragonfly danced and sang,
“The key is always with me,
when I'm ready to be free.
Staying there may be safe with ease;
flying high a different view you'll see.
Getting lost in the wood of trees.
Remember to always breathe.
Shh...listen to the gentle breeze.
It whispers,
"Loving yourself is the key."”
The dragonfly disappeared after taking them to a lake. The water was clear but it looked so deep. A big white swan was swimming in the lake. The girl asked the cat, “How can we cross to the other side? Should we ask the swan? But I’m not sure if she will help or if she’s strong enough to hold us.” The cat said, “Just try asking, and we’ll see.” The swan let them sit on her back and carried them to the other side of the lake. The swan sang in a mesmerizing voice,
“Let's flow
you don't need a boat.
Let's flow
to a far new road.
Let's flow
see the views you never know.
Let's flow
hear the stories untold.
Let's flow
don't worry about where to go.”
When they bid farewell, the swan gracefully said, “Thank you for your trust. People usually can only see my beauty but not my strength.”
They walked into the forest. It was getting dark and cold in the night. They cuddled each other and took some rest. A red dragon saw them and breathed a bonfire to warm them. The girl said, “The dragon is not as cruel as I thought.” The cat said, “Meet them, be with them and get to really know them before you judge. But bear in mind every dragon could be different.” In the next morning, they saw the red dragon flying and thanked it. The red dragon invited them to sit on its back, “Hold tight, and let’s fly high!” The forest was no longer like a maze when they looked from the above. Though the sky was still unreachable no matter how high they flew.
They landed on a flower field near the tree hole their home. There were full of beautiful blossoming flowers of vibrant colors. A unicorn ran to the flower field and marked a rainbow along the way. The girl and the cat tried to step out of its way and just to share the space with peace. When the unicorn got close and touched the girl’s face with its cheek, the girl responded by patting gently on its back. The unicorn cheerfully shared its adventures when they walked together on the flower field. “I like you. You are the first person not trying to control, catch or ride on me.” The flower field became their favorite place to hang around. Not only the unicorn, but the dragonfly, the swan, the red dragon, and other new friends would gather joyfully there.
When the cat got old and weak, the girl took him back to the tree hole, taking good care of him to make him most comfortable. No matter how hard she tried, still he died in her arms. Her heart broke into pieces and scattered on the ground. Since then, she either slept hoping to see him in her dreams, or cried when she was awake. One night, the cat finally came to her dream. “Death cannot part us. I am always with you. Pick up the pieces of your heart. Go see our flower field.”
When she woke up, she cried again as she could no longer see him around. She picked up the pieces of her heart from the ground as told. The pieces rebuilt into a transparent heart and she could see the cat now living in it, nodding and smiling at her. Her tears finally stopped and she ran to the flower field as told. It was now an abandoned field. Her tears flooded the flower field, her rages burned down all the flowers and trees around. She felt really sorry for what she saw.
Since then, she spent her days rebuilding and nurturing the flower field and trees around. At night, she went back to the tree hole to join the cat in sweet dreams. Not long later, flowers blossomed again and green leaves grew from the trees. The flower field again became a joyful playground for the dragonfly, swan, red dragon, unicorn and other creatures.
