The Lamb

In the quiet, stillness of winter, a small lamb sleeps peacefully in a barn at night. A gentle gust of wind dances its way past an old oak fence, interrupting the night's ambiance with a sharp creak. The lamb opens its eyes, as moonlight peering through the cracks of aged wooden walls basks them in cosmic opulence. The lamb rises with tired legs and walks slowly towards the barn’s doorway. Outside, snowfall rests gently upon the untouched, icy blanket nurturing the Earth to deep sleep. As the lamb walks further, blending into the milky abyss, its eyes follow curiously towards the light that awakened them. The moon, in all its wholeness and splendor, stands mightily against the black sky. Unbeknownst to the lamb, its gaze impales the moon’s cold stare and reaches behind it, looking endlessly into the void. What could be beyond? Perhaps its gaze aligns perfectly with that of another animal, also watching the sky with curious eyes. An animal on another planet, a savage planet of gas-filled skies and lakes of lava. Or a planet entirely of deep oceans, decorated with crystalized stalagmite caves. Is this creature disturbed by its hideous surroundings, that it looks to the sky for refuge and solace? Might it never know the warmth of winter’s cold embrace, as the pale air gives way to the sky and unsheathes the beauty of the cosmos? Could the lamb’s gaze diverge off this other creature’s and create a kaleidoscope of wandering eyes throughout the galaxy? A web of beings, all unknowingly watching each other. But the lamb does not think any of this, and simply stares at the moon. Alone, as a calm wind gently brushes loose snow on its face, the lamb wrinkles its nose and releases its gaze. Walking through the glacial terrain, it heads back to the barn and nestles comfortably in a hay-stacked corner. In the quiet stillness of winter, the small lamb sleeps peacefully in the barn at night.