The female elephant moved closer to the edge of the waterhole, her massive trunk brushing against Paul’s arm. Her touch, though gentle, carried a clear message: don’t abandon us. Paul’s chest tightened. The weight of her trust was overwhelming, and he felt caught in an emotional standoff.
“I can’t go down there alone,” Paul murmured, his voice breaking as he knelt before the elephant. “But I swear I’m not leaving you. I’ll come back with help.” His words felt hollow in the face of her desperation, her pained breathing filling the silent rainforest.