Once upon a time, perched on a tiny asteroid smaller than a garden shed, lived a curious boy named Leo. Unlike other kids, Leo didn’t have a backyard or a swing set. His playground was the starry sky, filled with twinkling friends and shimmering constellations. His only companion was a wise, old cactus with droopy needles and a passion for ancient riddles.
One day, a strange puff of wind landed on his asteroid, carrying a grumpy pilot with sandy hair and a perpetually crinkled nose. It was Alex, a pilot lost on his way somewhere important (or so he claimed). But Leo wasn’t interested in destinations; he was interested in stories. He bombarded Alex with questions about the other worlds he’d seen.
Alex used to grown-up conversations about schedules and broken engines, was taken aback by Leo’s endless curiosity. He told him about a giant planet where people only cared about numbers and a world filled with vain roses always needing compliments (Leo couldn’t quite understand why anyone would need compliments more than a good night’s sleep).
Leo, in turn, shared stories of his star friends – Booming Ben, the playful red giant, and Luna, the gentle moon who sang him lullabies made of moonlight. He even told Alex about a beautiful but lonely rose (different from Alex’s boastful ones) that sprouted from a crack on his asteroid. He watered it with tiny meteor showers and sang it songs about constellations.
Slowly, Alex, hardened by his travels, softened. He learned the joy of gazing at the stars without needing a map, the importance of questions over answers, and the beauty of a simple flower that thrived on love, not praise.
One day, a strange pull made Alex’s plane shudder. It was time for him to leave. Leo, with a tear rolling down his cheek, gifted him a single seed from his rose – a reminder of the magic found in looking beyond the ordinary.
Alex promised to plant the seed when he returned home, a tiny reminder of the little prince with starry eyes who had shown him the most important things in life weren’t found on a map, but in the wonder of the unknown, the value of friendship, and the quiet beauty of a single, cherished rose.
