It was a beautiful day in Willow Brick Woods.
Bella Butterfly had been looking forward to today.
She had planned to meet her friends at the big oak tree after breakfast.
They were gonna fly through the meadow.
Visit the stream,
And see who could spot the first little yellow flower of spring.
But when Bella woke up,
Something felt different.
She didn't want to get out of bed.
She didn't know why.
Her wings felt heavy.
Even though wings aren't supposed to feel heavy.
Bella slowly climbed out of her little flower-shaped bed and looked out the window.
The sun was shining.
The birds were singing.
Everything looked perfectly lovely.
And yet,
Bella didn't feel lovely at all.
She flew slowly toward the oak tree.
Oliver Kitten was already there.
Bella,
He called.
Come on,
We're going to the stream.
Bella landed on a leaf.
I don't think I want to.
Oliver tilted his head.
Are you sick?
No.
Tired.
Maybe.
Sad?
Bella thought about it.
I don't know.
Oliver sat down beside her.
That's okay.
Bella looked at him.
Oliver said,
Sometimes I don't know either.
Just then,
Pip Rabbit came bouncing through the grass.
Come on,
Come on,
Come on.
Bella smiled a little.
Pip was always moving.
They headed toward the stream together,
But the meadow suddenly seemed very noisy.
The birds sounded louder.
The wind seemed stronger.
Pip was talking very quickly.
Oliver was chasing a leaf.
Bella's wings started fluttering faster and faster.
I think I need to go home,
She whispered.
Nobody laughed.
Nobody asked her to stay.
Oliver simply nodded.
Okay,
We'll walk with you.
When they reached Bella's flower house,
She curled up on her favorite leaf.
I don't understand,
She said.
Nothing bad happened today.
Tilly Turtle,
Who had been slowly making her way up the path,
Heard Bella.
Something doesn't have to be bad for you to need a quiet moment,
She said.
Bella looked at her.
Tilly continued slowly.
Sometimes our minds and bodies just have too much going on.
Bella thought about that.
She had woken up tired.
She had been thinking about school tomorrow.
She had heard the birds and the wind and Pip talking and Oliver running around.
Maybe it really had just been too much.
Tilly smiled.
Would you like to try something with me?
Bella nodded.
Tilly took a slow breath in.
Bella copied her.
And then Tilly slowly breathed out.
Bella did the same.
Again,
They breathe in.
.
.
Then out.
And again.
Breathing in.
And out.
The meadow hadn't changed.
The birds were still singing.
Oliver was still chasing leaves.
But Bella noticed something.
Her wings weren't wanting to flutter quite so quickly anymore.
I feel a little better,
She said.
Sometimes that's all we need,
Said Tilly.
Not to fix everything.
Just to give ourselves a little room.
Bella smiled.
Can my room be very quiet?
Oliver immediately whispered,
Extremely quiet.
Pip whispered very,
Very quietly.
They all giggled.
Then Bella settled comfortably into her bed.
Her friends stayed for a little while without asking her to talk or play.
And when Bella's eyes finally grew sleepy,
She thought about something important.
Tomorrow might be a busy day.
And that's okay.
Because if the world ever felt too big again,
She knew she could stop.
Take a breath.
And give herself a little room.
Outside her window,
The leaves rustled softly in the evening breeze.
And Bella Butterfly drifted peacefully to sleep.
