MSN Tales #4: The Snail that Died

once upon a time
there was a little squirrel
who lived on the tree
and from that tree he saw everything
but it wasn't the far away lands of taller trees and greener grass that makes him wonder, that makes him lust for change
it's not the distant skies or a promise of a rainer forest that intrigues him
but its the things that happen under his tree that captures his attention the most
especially this...

some years ago, there was a little snail who crawled his way under tree
and there the little snail saw a little skunk
the little skunk was a beautiful skunk, its black and white hair were shinier and smoother than any silk the best silkworm can come up with
and the snail fell in love with the skunk
instantaneously

right at that moment, the skunk farted. for it was something skunks do
but it didn't matter to the snail. He did not smell the stench
so he took a deep breath of it
and fainted
he fainted because his lungs were not able to process the air
so he ran out of breath
but that stench did more to him than just making him faint
for when he awoke
he smelt clean air
and clean air was not what he wanted
and from that day onwards, the little snail sought the skunk, for he knew she could give her that smell.

everyday, he would come back to the tree and wait for her
but she would not come
and she would not come
and she would never come

the squirrel is old now
and still he sees the snail waiting, every day
the snail doesn't even carry his shell around anymore
because it didn't fit him anymore
he would just... crawl
the snail would be dead without its shell

and soon after today
the little snail rested its head on the trunk of the tree
and slept eternally
never seeing his beloved skunk again
the squirrel, having seen all this, can only wonder
what would have happened if the skunk had returned
what would have happened if the snail learned and realized that he was foolish
what would have happened if he had not loved
it was love that drove him to return to the tree
it was love that drove him stronger
and weaker
it was love that gave him rest
but alas, the squirrel thought, if only love is all there is to everything

and so the snail travelled to the land of greener pastures and bluer skies, where the moon is rounder and the stars brighter

he died by the tree yes
or at least part of him did
for his love had died there that night
and the skunk never did return
and the love never revived

-the end-