The squirrel had no reason.
He was only running away
from a sense of guilt.

The mouse was full of bravado,
dreaming aloud,
“One day, I’ll stand on a grand stage.”

The two found an instant kinship.
“Let’s leave this forest behind,” they said.
“Let’s head toward that shining city.”

Seize the moment while you can.
“Let’s set out tonight.”
The mouse declared,
“This is where our adventure begins!”

Be careful—
the night owl with savage claws is watching.
Be careful—
you can hear the hidden snake
licking its tongue.

Only when life begins to tremble
do we bow before God.
Please forgive even this foolishness.

And God said,
“You may rest easy.
For in every darkness,
there is light.”

“Hey, did you hear that voice?
That voice just now—
did you hear it too?”
(“Hey, are you out of your mind?”)

The mouse was still full of confidence.
“This journey will surely go well.”
(“Come on, it’s already right there, can’t you see?”)

“Ah, to touch the world—
how wonderful it is!
Like tasting a vivid red apple
for the very first time.
More emotion than I ever imagined
fills my heart to the brim—”

And in that way,
he gave thanks
for every step of the path they had walked.

(“Anyway, this journey ends here. Goodbye.”)
“No, a journey never truly ends.
If you’d like, let’s go together.”
(“What I was searching for
wasn’t a place.
I realized that only after arriving.”)
“That’s too bad.
I wanted to draw magic and dreams together…”

When life ends,
it comes without warning.
They did not know—
there was no such thing as safety.

And God said,
“You may rest easy.
If it is a true prayer,
it will never go unheard.”