Fairy tales for young and old ~ English version

Whispers of the Forest

Once upon a time, in a mystical forest that lay hidden from the modern world, the ancient trees whispered secrets of the past. This was a place where human footsteps had never tread, a sanctuary where the souls of the lost found solace in the embrace of nature. The trees, towering and wise, were the silent guardians of these wandering spirits.

In the heart of this enchanted woodland lived a young fairy named Cinnamon. With wings like autumn leaves and eyes that sparkled like the morning dew, she was the forest's joy. Cinnamon spent her days dancing with the wind and listening to the stories of the old oaks.

One misty dawn, as the forest awoke to the songs of the larks, Cinnamon stumbled upon a peculiar sight—a human child, no older than seven, with eyes wide with wonder and fear. His name was Michael, and he was lost, far from the world he knew.

Cinnamon, with a heart as warm as her name, took Michael by the hand. "Fear not, for you are not alone," she said. Together, they embarked on a journey through the forest to find Michael's way home.

As they ventured deeper into the woods, the forest revealed its secrets to them. They spoke with the ancient willows that wept for the souls they cradled, and they danced with the spirits that flickered like fireflies at twilight. The forest, alive with magic, whispered tales of love, loss, and longing.

Days turned to nights, and nights to days, as Cinnamon and Michael journeyed on. They shared laughter and stories, and a bond grew between them—a bond as strong as the roots of the forest.

At last, they reached the edge of the forest, where the trees gave way to the light of the outer world. There, waiting with hearts heavy with despair, were Michael's parents. They had searched long and hard for their beloved son, their hope dwindling like the last stars at dawn.

Michael turned to Cinnamon, his eyes filled with a silent gratitude. He smiled at his parents, a smile that held the love of a thousand lifetimes. And as they reached out to him, Michael's form began to shimmer like the morning mist.

With one final whisper, "I love you," he faded away, his soul at peace, leaving behind a trail of radiant light. His parents, though overwhelmed with a mix of sorrow and relief, felt a gentle warmth in their hearts, as if Michael had wrapped them in an ethereal embrace – he was a soul that had lingered in the forest, yearning for a final farewell.

And so, the tale of the Forest came to a close, with the forest's deepest secret kept until the very end. The trees continued to stand tall, their whispers carrying the legacy of the young soul who found his way home, not through the paths of the world, but through the love he left behind.

And Cinnamon, the fairy of the forest, would forever cherish the memory of the human child who taught her the purest form of friendship and the importance of a final goodbye.