Maiwald

In a hidden corner of the world, amidst an impenetrable forest, stood the tallest of all trees. At its summit, nestled within the green canopy, was a modest treehouse. This treehouse was home to Johanna, a woman of breathtaking beauty. Her ice-blue eyes sparkled with life, and her golden-brown hair shone in the morning sun’s light. She was a queen, wearing a crown of golden leaves and emeralds, but her kingdom was not of stone and metal but of wood and leaves.

Johanna possessed a remarkable ability – she could communicate with the animals and plants of her forest. She whispered with the trees, conversed with the birds, and listened to the tales of the forest creatures. She was the guardian of the forest, ensuring the balance between all creatures remained.

But even in this peaceful kingdom, there were secrets and dangers. Deep within the forest, where the sun’s light seldom reached, there were creatures not as friendly as those Johanna knew. She heard their distant calls at night and knew she must protect her kingdom and her beloved animals from these dangers.

One day, as the sun was just rising, and the forest was bathed in a gentle golden light, unusual sounds reached Johanna’s ears. They were the steps of a human. A stranger had entered the forest. Despite her initial skepticism, Johanna felt a strange curiosity. Who was this stranger, and what was he seeking in her forest?

As the sounds got closer, Johanna hid in the shadow of her treehouse and watched the intruder. The stranger was a young man, with rough features and eyes the color of the moss on the trees. He seemed cautious, respecting the size and beauty of the forest.

Days passed, and Johanna continued to observe from a distance. She saw how he walked gently through the forest, touching the plants and avoiding the animals. He didn’t seem to see the forest as hostile, but rather as a wonder. And somehow, despite her initial mistrust, Johanna found this comforting.

Then, on a day that seemed like any other, something unexpected happened. The stranger tripped over a hidden root and fell. He tried to get up, but his leg seemed injured. He was stranded.

This was the moment Johanna had feared. She could have stayed in the shadows and left him to his fate. But she was the guardian of this forest, and it felt wrong not to help him. So, she stepped out of the shadow and approached him.

When the stranger saw Johanna, his eyes widened with surprise and awe. She extended her hand and offered him her help. He hesitated for a moment, then took her hand.

After this initial meeting, Johanna took the stranger, Alejandro, into her care. She took care of his injured leg and helped him navigate the wilderness of the Maiwald. In the following weeks, they lived together, and Alejandro learned about life in the forest – the ways of the animals, the secrets of the plants, and the rhythms of the forest, which Johanna cared for so lovingly.

Alejandro was a good listener and showed awe for Johanna’s unique connection to nature. They found pleasure in each other, and it seemed as though they found a common language despite their different origins.

But then something happened that shattered Johanna’s trust in Alejandro. One day, as she was gathering food, she saw Alejandro in the distance. He was standing, completely free of signs of the injury that had kept him bedridden for weeks. He looked around as if making sure no one was watching, and then he began to wander.

Johanna felt betrayed. She had taken Alejandro in, cared for him, and trusted him, and now it seemed as though he had been lying to her all along.

With a heavy heart, she returned to the treehouse and confronted Alejandro with what she had seen. He tried to explain, but she would not listen. She felt betrayed and wanted him to leave the forest immediately. Alejandro looked at her with sad eyes, but he did not argue. He packed his belongings and disappeared from Maiwald, from Johanna’s life.

Johanna was left alone, with a broken heart and a forest full of memories. She had loved Alejandro, but she could not shake the feeling of betrayal. It would take time to restore the trust she had lost.

The weeks following Alejandro’s departure were hard for Johanna. Despite her anger and disappointment, she couldn’t banish him from her thoughts. She missed his stories, his laughter, and the way he looked at her as if she was the most precious being in the world. She missed him.

And so came the day when Johanna made a decision she never thought possible: she would leave the forest to look for Alejandro. With a heavy heart, she said goodbye to the animals and plants, promised them she would return, and set out on her journey.

She had no idea where to start, but she simply followed her heart. And then, at the edge of the forest, she saw something that made her heart beat faster: a small camp, and there, by the fire, sat Alejandro.

He looked up as she approached, and for a moment they just stared at each other. Then he stood up and without a word they ran towards each other and fell into each other’s arms. They cried and laughed, and as they kissed, they knew that everything that had happened had only led them to find each other again.

Alejandro explained that he was never really injured. He had just pretended because he was afraid to leave the forest he had come to love. And he was afraid to leave Johanna, who he loved more than anything else.

Johanna understood, and although she was still hurt, she knew she could forgive him. Because despite all his mistakes and failures, she loved him. And she knew that together they were strong enough to weather any storm. They decided to return to the forest together, ready to rewrite their story and shape their future together.