The Mysterious Box That Floated Down the River

Once upon a time, on the outskirts of a village, there flowed a small river.

When spring arrived, the melting snow would flow into it, and the river would make a gentle, rustling sound.

There was a girl who played by that river every day.

One day.

As the girl was picking up stones by the riverbank, a small box came tumbling down from upstream.

Oh, what a cute box.

When she held it in her palm, the wooden box felt slightly warm, as if it were alive.

There was no lock or anything on the lid.

However, when the girl gently stroked it, the box opened with a soft puff.

Wow...

Inside, a single small light was floating and flickering.

It looked just like a tiny piece of the sky, and when you peered into it, you could see a strange landscape.

A road at sunset.

Grass swaying in the wind.

Someone's laughter.

The girl tilted her head.

"I wonder whose memory this is?"

Just then, a gentle voice was heard from out of nowhere.

“It is something known as the “Mysterious Box That Floated Down the River””

When she turned around, a small white bird was perched on a nearby branch.

"People sometimes accidentally let important things float away."

"Both sad things and happy things, you see."

The girl looked inside the box once more.

The light swayed slowly, as if it were saying, "I'm here."

"Then, can I... take this home with me?"

When she asked that, the white bird shook its head gently.

"You could take it home, but in truth,"

"it has been left in your care so that you can remember it when you need to."

The girl thought for a while.

Then, she smiled and said,

"Then, I'll leave it just as it is."

"Because if that person wanted to remember it again, it would be a problem if it were gone."

The white bird flapped its wings happily.

"You are such a kind child."

The girl gently closed the box and returned it to the river.

The box tumbled along the current and soon disappeared into the sparkling water.

Ever since then.

It is said that small boxes began to float down that river from time to time.

They must surely be someone's precious "lost items".

Even today, the river quietly keeps them and carries them along gently.

I participated in this prompt by Mikan Katagiri👇️✨️