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There's an unknown path that only I know, and I walk it everyday.
The way is narrow, dirt-trodden, and unseen by the average hiker's eye. I like to sniff the crisp morning air when I pass through everyday. The soft, gentle sunlight caressing my hair, the piano-like cadence to my step. The earth under my feet is hardened not by concrete, but by stones promising wriggly creatures if unturned. I like the way the nearby foliage tickles my neck when I go down the slopes, or up to a little hill where I dig for greens I like to chew.
Here on the path, there is nothing that I fear. I run around every day chasing butterflies, free and without worry. Every afternoon I collapse on a bed of dandelions, waving my hands over their blossoms until they fly away, up and up into the blushing sky. I like falling asleep here, warm and embraced by solitude. Lofty clouds watch over me, sometimes kissing my cheek with a shower in daylight. When I crane my neck to watch the tiny droplets fall, I remember why I walk alone.
The reason why I started on this path is unclear, but I have long since stopped chasing what led me here. I trot forward, bouncies on my step as I greet the pretty lilacs, the lovely roses, the towering oaks, the cawing crows. Hardly do I feel bored ever. There is always something interesting to see, to smell, to play with. Tiny rustlings here and there call my attention, and I feel my ears prick awake. Something fluffy skitters on the grass. A baby rabbit! The angry buzzing of cicadas pound in my head, but that fascinates me even more. Then all of a sudden, a resounding boom that shakes the trees. It's a beaver slapping the water with its tail! That means it wants to be alone, but I want to play with it more.
My days of leisure on the hidden path continued, until one day something changed. There was a creature napping on the dandelion field where I always slept. This creature was big, so much more bigger than me. It had flowy ink stuck on its head that smelled like... like something sweet when I sniffed it. I was more curious than afraid, so I tiptoed closer. The creature had long fingers, longer legs. Its chest heaved up and down slowly. I climbed up its shoulder to look at the creature's face. Its skin was smooth, very different from mine. It had a terrifyingly pointed nose that emerged too far out. But other than its size and nose, the creature felt harmless to me. Something about its presence comforted me, that I soon found myself curling up on its chest to sleep.
It was evening when I woke up. The sun had set and replaced by a cookie moon. I rubbed my eyes, patting my hair into place from its tousled state. That was when I remembered. I looked around, yawning as I scanned the area. Where had the creature gone?
"There you are."
A gentle voice spoke from above me. I looked up and saw the creature smiling at me. It offered me yummy fish which I heartily ate, and spring water in a banana leaf. As I munched, the creature bit into an apple. It cracked open a coconut and drank the coconut water in it. When our gazes met, the creature smiled and patted my head.
And then a sound from within me broke out. A deep, guttural vibration that made me feel good. The sound of contentment, peace, love, and trust. I remember this creature now. This creature is called a human. My human.
"We met again, just like we promised."