Not all paths in the forest are marked with fear.
Some are lined with the moonlight,
Some with the hum of ancient trees,
And some begin with a question whispered into the stars.
What do you carry when the world feels unknown?
On a night when the stars felt very close,
Two children,
Hansel and Gretel,
Stood at the edge of the groove,
Not scared but curious,
Not lost but seeking.
Hansel held the smooth pebbles from the river,
Each one a quiet promise to be brave.
Gretel carried a soft white feather,
A gift from a bird who once flew far and free.
We walk with light,
Hansel whispered.
We walk with heart,
Gretel smiled.
Somewhere deep in the forest,
A voice answered,
Not with words but with warmth.
Then walk softly and I will guide you.
They stepped into the forest,
The leaves above danced in silver light,
The trees whispered as they passed.
Hansel dropped a pebble every few steps,
Not to find his way back but to bless the path ahead.
Gretel let the feather float gently in the air,
It twirled,
Shimmered and returned to her hand.
She giggled softly.
It remembers me,
She said.
So does the forest,
Hansel replied.
The deeper they walked,
The quieter everything became,
Only the rhythm of the steps and the hush of the leaves reminded.
In a small clearing,
They found a house,
Built from bark and petals,
Candles in the windows glowing like stars.
A kind woman with silver hair and eyes like water stepped out,
No broom,
No tricks,
Only a soft smile.
Come in,
Little travelers,
The house is waiting for you.
Inside,
It smelled like warm bread and lavender.
The walls glowed with gentle light.
She gave them tea with honey and mint.
Gretel curled beside the fire,
Hansel stared into the flames.
The woman said,
This is not a house of candy,
It is a house of remembering.
Remembering what?
Gretel asked.
That you are more than what the world tells you.
The woman led them outside,
Into a garden under the moon.
The ground sparkled with dew and trees hummed softly.
Close your eyes,
She whispered.
They did.
Feel the earth below you,
Feel the sky above you,
And now feel the light inside.
Hansel felt a warm glow in his chest.
Gretel felt her heartbeat echo like a soft drum.
You are safe,
Said the woman.
You are made of the same light that lives in the stars and in the trees and in each other.
When they opened their eyes,
They saw the garden shimmer softly,
Like it had been waiting to be seen.
In the morning,
The woman gave Hansel a sandstone and Gretel a feather wrapped in light.
You don't need magic,
She said.
You only need to remember who you are.
They hugged her gently,
Then walked back through the forest.
This time,
The trees felt like old friends.
The pebbles Hansel had dropped now glowed like stars.
Gretel's feather floated gently behind her,
Always returning to her hand.
When they saw the edge of the forest,
Their hearts were full,
Not just with memories,
But with something new.
A quiet strength,
A deeper peace.
Now,
Let your body become soft,
Like forest moss.
Let your thoughts float,
Like feathers on wind.
Breathe in gently.
Hold.
Breathe out slowly.
And pause again.
Let yourself feel the warmth of the fire,
The whisper of the trees,
The peace in your chest.
There is no place you must go,
No answer you must find.
You are safe.
You are home.
You are full of light.
Stay here as long as you like.
Let the forest hold you.
The story will stay,
And the music will be here,
Just for you.
