FICTION

Once upon a time, there was a little bird.

She lived on the highest branch of an old pine tree, deep in a distant forest. She was very small, with feathers as soft as cloud down and a voice like a beautiful song.

One early morning, before the sun had appeared on the horizon, the little bird awoke. Everything was covered with dews—as if the night had left behind thousands of tears. And, these beads were sparkling on the leaves like tiny stars fallen to earth.

Since the bird looked at the nearest leaf and saw a small drop—clear, delicate, round like a pearl. It trembled gently with every breath of the wind.

“Hello,” whispered the bird. “Why do you shine so brightly?”

“Because I was born from the night,” the dewdrop replied softly. “And, the night gave me as a gift to the morning. As I am small, so I will disappear when the sun kisses me. But while I am here, I will shine with all my heart.”

And, the little bird fell silent. Sometimes she also felt her small and unnoticed in the vast world. Yet the dewdrop was not afraid of its short life. On the contrary—it was happy simply to shine.

“I wish I could be like you,” said the bird quietly. “Not afraid of being small.”

“But you already are,” the drop answered with a gentle smile, scattering tiny sparks of light. “Every sound you make is a gift. And, every beat of your wings brings joy to the wind. So, you are part of the great beauty called Earth.”

The little bird lowered her head. She did not know what to say. At that moment, the first ray of sunlight touched the leaves.

The dewdrop shone brighter than ever—like a star, whispering its final words, “Thank you.” Then slowly, tenderly, it turned into light and disappeared.

Then the little bird chirped softly, as if to say, “Stay…”

From that day on, she sang every morning. She sang to remind the world that even the smallest light has its own song. And that every heart—no matter how tiny—can shine.

All it needs is to be itself.

….

(Self-translation from Bulgarian)

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