Moksha – p.1

Once upon a sunset there lived a little elephant named Moksha, and it was past her bedtime.

“It is time for you to sleep now, little one,” said her mother.

“I don’t want to!” said Moksha, wrapping her trunk around her mother’s tail and pulling. “I’m not tired.” Every night, Moksha fought with her mother this way, for she wanted to stay up like her parents and the other elders did. She was sure she was missing out on something special, and did not understand why they did not like her enough to include her.

“You must go to bed,” her mother said, and pushed and prodded until Moksha was curled up and quiet. “Sleep well my child,” she said, and left.

“It’s not fair,” Moksha mumbled. She watched the last rays of the sun play across the sky from where she lay, tucked under the large leaves of a green plant by the river. Each night, she tried to wait for the stars to come out so she could sneak away in the darkness and spy on the others; but each night, she fell asleep waiting.