Many years ago, deep in a forest, a man stumbled upon a helpless baby gorilla. The tiny creature was lying still in the damp grass, its small body injured, a wound on its paw, and barely holding on to life. The man couldn’t bring himself to walk away — he gently picked the baby up, wrapped it in his coat, and took it home.
Over the following weeks, he nursed the gorilla back to health — cleaning its wounds, bottle-feeding it, keeping it warm by the fire, and talking to it as tenderly as if it were his own child.
The gorilla grew quickly and became attached to the man who had saved its life. In turn, the man formed a deep bond with the animal. For several months, they lived together peacefully. The gorilla grew stronger, larger — but behind its powerful frame were the same soft, intelligent eyes full of trust.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t legal to keep a wild animal in a private home. One day, a neighbor caught a glimpse of the now-grown gorilla through a window and alerted the authorities.
The next morning, animal control officers showed up. Despite the man’s desperate pleas — assuring them the gorilla was gentle and had never been aggressive — they insisted the animal be removed.
The gorilla was taken away, and the man was left alone in a home that suddenly felt cold and empty. He would sit by the cage that once held his companion, holding onto an old rope the gorilla used to play with, lost in grief and memories.
Over time, the gorilla was placed in a local zoo. It adapted well and quickly became a favorite among the staff. It was calm, never aggressive, and seemed to watch every visitor with thoughtful, gentle eyes. The zookeepers marveled at its awareness and unusual empathy.
Meanwhile, the man’s health began to fail. He was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, and doctors gave him only a few weeks to live. Frail and bedridden, he barely ate or spoke — but one wish stayed with him constantly: to see his old friend again, just once.
His story was picked up by a local newspaper, and when the zoo staff read it, they were deeply moved. They decided to fulfill the man’s final request.
On the day of the reunion, the man was wheeled into the zoo on a stretcher, bundled under a warm blanket. His breathing was shallow, his eyes barely open — but there was a peaceful look on his face. The zoo staff opened the gate and gently brought him into the gorilla’s enclosure. The animal sat in the far corner, facing away.
At the faint sound of a cough, the gorilla slowly turned around. It froze — staring at the man for a few seconds, wide-eyed, as if trying to understand if this was real. Then, it began to walk toward him, each step slow and deliberate. The zookeepers stood still, holding their breath.
None of them truly believed the gorilla would remember him. Just in case, they had tranquilizers ready.
The gorilla approached, reached out, and gently touched the man’s hand. It sniffed it… then let out a deep, emotional sound. Without warning, it wrapped its massive arms around the man — not tightly, but tenderly, as though afraid of losing him again.
Tears welled in the gorilla’s eyes. It let out soft, mournful sounds — noises that seemed almost human. The man lifted a trembling hand and patted its head, managing a faint smile.
The entire staff was overwhelmed. Not a single dry eye remained. The gorilla remained beside the man, gently rocking him in its arms, making quiet, soothing sounds — as if trying to speak to him.
A few minutes later, the man’s eyes closed. Peacefully. He had passed away in the presence of the friend he had once saved.
The gorilla didn’t move. It stayed right beside him, silent, unmoving. When the zookeepers finally came to take the body away, it growled protectively, refusing to let them near. Only when it saw them lift the man gently and with care did it allow them to leave.
