"In the Treetop Canopy" by Malina Krowka: February 2026 2nd Place

"I wish you understood that some fairytales are true!"

"What?"

"In the treetop canopies there really is a paradise. I swear!"

A young boy pressed his ear to the door, absorbing his parent’s words. A paradise? 

A whimsical, dreamy smile spread across his face.

The next morning, a high-pitched voice sounded from the front door. "I’m going into the forest Mama, okay?"

Without waiting for a reply, the door eagerly swung shut, and the lamb-like child ran into the tall, infinite trees. He launched himself onto the first high tree he saw. Soft chirps accompanied his childish chatter as he narrated his climb, his feet tied together with his trouser belt. He inched up with a stunning fluency; clearly, he had practiced this art before.

In the distance, he sometimes thought he saw a lamb with wings and a halo flying up alongside him.

"Oh wow." A soft gasp escaped the child's lips.

Fields of rolling grass and flowers flooded the boy’s eyes. He had climbed through the canopy.

"Wonderland" was not a sufficient word to describe the sight! Why hadn't he ever known this before? His old existence was nothing in comparison! Bubble pits and amusement parks, ice cream stores and parks...it was everything he ever wanted.

Quickly, the boy was gone, his small legs carrying him as fast as possible towards the colorful town in front of him. Already, the boy’s old life was merely a distant phantom floating gloomily in the corner of his mind.

***

"You have to let him go."

The mother clutched her husband’s arm, her hair draping her face like a wedding veil. Tears emerged from under the nest of strands.

"He's dead. He's been dead ever since the car crash last year. We did what we needed to do—his spirit deserved the Heavens, not to linger here." The father traced the mother's long, black robe to the floor.

In the sky far above, a strange sound emerged. It sounded like a lamb.