I was peacefully walking through the forest
We tend to believe that the moments that transform us arrive with noise: a crucial decision, a revelation, a blow of fate. But sometimes, what changes our life begins with something as simple as a walk.
That morning, like so many others, I went for a walk in the forest in search of a bit of peace and silence. The air was fresh, the light gray and gentle. I was walking along a familiar path, one I usually follow when I feel the need to return to myself. I didn’t know that, among the damp leaves and the shadows of the ferns, something unexpected was waiting for me.
The Mysterious Yellow Little Spheres
I turned a bend and that’s when I saw them. On the side of the trail were small yellow spheres, perfectly round and clustered together. At first, I thought they were some kind of strange mushrooms. They had such a vivid color and such a smooth texture that they looked almost plastic. I stepped closer, curious.
And then, they moved.
A chill ran down my spine. I froze, straining to listen… and I heard a faint peeping sound. Barely perceptible, almost like a whisper. These little balls were not mushrooms. They were tiny chicks.
Alone and Trembling on the Ground
Some were still half-covered in bits of shell. Others trembled in a small huddle, their eyes closed, their soft down stirred by the morning breeze. There was no nest, no mother nearby, no sign of a coop. Just them. Fragile. Exposed. Alive.
For a moment, I thought I was dreaming. But the truth was harsher: someone had left them there intentionally.
The Call That Made the Difference
Without hesitation, I called an animal shelter. They answered urgently:
— “Don’t leave. Stay with them.”
And that’s what I did. I knelt beside them without touching them, afraid of hurting them. I simply stayed there, trying to shield them from the wind, from loneliness, from abandonment.
Shortly after, the rescue team arrived. Together we gathered them, one by one, carefully placing them in boxes lined with soft blankets. Some were peeping, others were barely breathing, but they were alive.
A Bittersweet Ending, Full of Questions
A few days later, the shelter called me: most of the chicks had survived. They were warm, under supervision, and were going to be transferred to specialized foster homes. It was a relief… but not a complete one.
I never found out who had abandoned them, or why. And perhaps I never will. But I understood one thing: that day, even the slightest change in my steps would have meant a different fate for them. All it takes is looking the other way for a tragedy to go unnoticed.
The Presence That Changes the World
Sometimes we believe that only grand gestures change the world. But most of the time, a careful glance, a phone call, a quiet presence — these are what truly make the difference.
That day, I was in the right place at the right time. Not for me, but for them.
What Do We Learn from This Story?
That we don’t have to be heroes to change something. It’s enough to be present, to pay attention, to listen to the small calls life throws our way. Sometimes, a simple walk turns into an act of compassion that changes the destiny of other beings.
Next time you go for a walk, lift your gaze, sharpen your hearing… because the world might be speaking to you.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.