The Best Friend

Anna and Abiel had been friends for as long as anyone could remember. They laughed together, played together, and shared all their secrets. Everyone in the village called them the inseparable pair.

One bright afternoon, boredom nudged them out of their homes.

“Let’s explore a little!” Anna said cheerfully.

“Yeah! Maybe we’ll find something exciting,” Abiel agreed, grinning.

They walked and talked, not noticing how far they had gone. The tall trees soon crowded around them, and the sunlight grew dimmer.

“Anna… this doesn’t look like the path near our house,” Abiel whispered.

Anna looked around nervously. “I think… we’re lost.”

They tried to stay brave and kept searching for the way back. But no matter which direction they walked, the forest only seemed to grow darker and thicker.

Suddenly, a deep, thunderous sound shook the air—

“ROOAAAR!”

Both their hearts dropped.

Anna gasped, “Abiel… did you hear that?”

Before Abiel could answer, a huge lion stepped out from behind a tree. Its golden eyes glowed, and its long tail swished dangerously.

Anna grabbed Abiel’s hand tightly. They were both trembling.

“I don’t want to die…” Abiel whispered, tears filling his eyes.

Not far away, a river glistened. Anna spotted it and said quickly, “Abiel, I can swim across. Let’s go!”

“But Anna… I can’t swim,” he said, voice shaking.

“Then hold onto me! Please!” he begged, his eyes full of fear and trust.

But panic had taken over Anna. She shook her head.

“No! If I take you with me, we’ll both drown!”

Before Abiel could say another word, she jumped into the river and started swimming away.

Abiel stood frozen. His best friend had left him.

Tears streamed down his face, but he wiped them quickly. He needed to survive. Spotting a thick bush, he crawled behind it and hid, barely daring to breathe. The lion slowly approached. Its heavy paws crushed dried leaves. Its breath was hot and loud. Abiel squeezed his eyes shut, praying silently.

The lion sniffed the air, then the bush… but to Abiel’s surprise, it simply turned away and continued down the forest path.

Across the river, Anna had watched everything while hiding partly underwater. When the lion finally disappeared into the trees, she stood up and yelled:

“Abiel! Are you okay? What did the lion say to you when he came near you?”

Abiel stepped out, his face pale but calm.

He looked at Anna with eyes full of hurt—not fear anymore, but sadness.

He said softly,

“The lion whispered something important…

He told me to never trust a false friend.”

Anna’s heart dropped. Shame washed over her like a flood.

She realized that the lion hadn’t been the real danger—her betrayal had.

Moral:
A true friend stands by your side in danger, fear, and difficulty.
Friendship means loyalty, courage, and never abandoning one another

By Amanda Grace

Visit our Facebook Page : Little Authors | Facebook