Far away, across the mountains and rivers, there was a very small and old valley, where a town had settled many years ago. It was a town with few people, to whom the world beyond the mountains was unknown. They had never left the valley, because they were too afraid of what the world was like, so they had made a promise that they would never think or even consider the idea of leaving the valley or even wondering how the world on the other side of the mountans was like.
In the smallest house of this little town, lived a family of four. The father, was a highly respected man, who had beautiful apple trees that provided food to his neighbors. The mother, a very classy middle aged woman, who was well known for being always thoughtful, and kind to everyone. The brother, who was a very strong young man, that helped the farmers and took care of other's horses. And finally, the daughter, nothing but a child who spent her days looking through her bedroom's window...contemplating those majestic mountains. Her family knew, why she did that...everyday she wondered what the world was like, if rainbow colored flowers and different flavoured apple trees grew somewhere...and the sea, OH THE SEA! she had always dreamt off, the sea that seemed so far from her grasp. So everynight she imagined a world, completely different from her own, where beautiful people walked down silver streets and lived in big white houses.Her father knew about her ilusions, and one day, he locked her up in a small room with no windows, so she could never leave. Every single night she slept in that small dark room, her mother could hear her crying, and sobbing till the break of dawn, and everynight, it was a torment...to know her daughter was suffering and that she couldn't do anything to help her. One afternoon, she entered the room and sat next to the daughter.
"I know what you're thinking" she said.
"Mom" her daughter said slowly "Haven't you ever wondered...what's beyond the fence?"
"I'm afraid I don't see what you mean" she answered.
"Beyond what's safe, beyond what you know..."
"We don't need to know, we're fine the way we are...we don't need anything else"
"You don't need to know? Aren't you even a bit curious?"
"You're young...you will understand when you grow up"
"I understand now!you are all so scared and so stubborn" the daughter said, annoyed.
Her mother thought for a moment, then understood."What is it that you want?"
"I want to get out..."her daughter said "I want to learn, and I want to see new things...the sea, waterfalls..."
Her mother stared at her for a moment, and she knew...she could read it in her eyes; it was time to let go. She then stood up. and reached for the hand knob.
"I'll leave food and water in the kitchen, you can take my coat and please, try not to wake your father, alright?"she said, and then smiled "I was wrong...the moment I said you were young, my darling...go if that is what you have to do"
For the first time, she saw a smile on her daughter's face."Thank you, mother"she said, with tears in her eyes.
Her mother opened the door, and left.
That night, while the mother was sleeping, she dreamt of a rocky beach, and noone was there but her. No worries, no mountains, nothing but sand, water, rocks and air.
she was free...and for once
felt happy
she had done the right thing
she had finally
let go.
