It was snowing.
Selenga sat on the windowsill, watching. Outside was pure white. Everything was quiet.
One snowflake—different from the others. A little bigger. A little slower.
It stuck to the window.
"You're watching," said the snowflake.
Selenga whispered. “Are you talking?”
"A little. I don't have much time."
A Short Life
“Why not?” asked Selenga.
"Soon I'll melt. All snowflakes melt."
"Doesn't that make you sad?"
“No.” The snowflake paused. “As I fell, I looked at everything. I saw the clouds—so big and white. I saw the city—lights, houses, people. I saw the trees—their branches white like me.”
“You saw it all.”
"While falling. But if I hadn't fallen, I wouldn't have seen any of it."
Falling to Fly
"I don't understand," said Selenga.
"Neither did I. While waiting in the cloud, I was afraid. 'What if I fall?' I thought. But when I did—I was free. I flew a little. I spun. I saw everywhere."
“You escaped your fear.”
“Yes. Falling made me free.”
Selenga thought about this. “Is it like that for people too?”
"I don't know. But I think so. When you go through the fear—you fly a little."
Now
"You're melting soon,“ said Selenga. ”Are you afraid?"
"No. Because I'm here now. Talking with you. Seeing the window's light. That's beautiful."
"Don't you think about what comes after?"
"Why would I? There won't be an after. There's only now."
Selenga watched the snowflake. It was shrinking. Slowly.
“Thank you,” she said.
“For what?”
“For showing me the now.”
The snowflake melted. Only a wet mark remained on the window.
Selenga looked. She took a deep breath.
She looked outside. Snow was still falling.
Each snowflake was descending. Each one making its short flight.
All of them living in the now.
A Note for Parents
Short and meaningful. Perfect for bedtime. For ages 3-4, you can simplify the language. After the story, ask: “What beautiful thing did you see today?”