Deep in the jungle, beneath the towering trees and the filtered rays of sunlight, the life of a small baby monkey unfolds — full of confusion, pain, and unanswered questions. The baby, clinging to the last days of comfort and milk, doesn’t understand why its mother, Libby, has suddenly become so distant — even harsh. What was once warmth and love has turned into rejection and rough treatment. And now, as weaning begins, that change has brought tears and suffering.
Libby, a strong and experienced female in the troop, had once cradled her baby with care. She groomed gently, fed regularly, and never let her little one out of sight. But over the past few days, her behavior shifted. The signs of weaning began: shorter feeding times, more pushing away, and less patience. However, unlike the gentle weaning seen in some mothers, Libby’s actions were more aggressive — and even hurtful.
Early in the morning, the baby monkey wakes up with hunger. It reaches out to nurse, but Libby turns quickly and shoves the baby aside. The baby cries softly but tries again. This time, Libby grabs its tiny arm and pulls it away with force, causing the baby to squeal in pain. It clings to the branch nearby, trembling, not knowing what it did wrong.
Throughout the day, this heartbreaking cycle continues. Each time the baby tries to approach, hoping for milk or even just closeness, Libby pushes or slaps it away. The baby falls back again and again, crying louder each time. The cries echo in the trees, but no comfort comes. Other monkeys glance over but do nothing. In the wild, every mother raises her baby her own way.
By midday, the baby monkey, exhausted and hungry, follows Libby wherever she goes. It stumbles through the undergrowth, crying and trying to keep up, still hoping for even a little kindness. At one point, the baby reaches for her leg, simply wanting to be near. But Libby turns and bites lightly at the air near her baby, scaring it away. The rejection is not just physical — it’s deeply emotional.
The baby crawls under a low bush and curls into a tight ball. It cries with little strength left, its voice broken and soft. Its body carries small scratches and bruises from being pushed and hit. But worst of all is the confusion — why has the one who gave life now become the one to cause so much pain?
As the evening falls and the jungle grows quiet, Libby finally sits down. Her baby approaches one last time, crying softly. She allows it to sit beside her, but when it reaches to nurse, she once again blocks the attempt.
Weaning is part of growing, but for this baby, it comes with tears and hurt. Libby may believe she’s teaching strength, but the lesson feels cold. In the shadows of the jungle, a little monkey cries — not only from hunger, but from a mother’s painful change.
