The Daughter of the Moon

The Daughter of the Moon

There was once a little girl whose life was filled with sadness. Her parents had passed away when she was very young, leaving her all alone in the world. She was taken in by a wealthy man who employed her to do endless chores. From early morning until late at night, she would fetch water, cook meals, and take care of the children in the household. No matter how hard she worked, all she received in return was her daily bread—barely enough to survive. She had no time to rest, no time to play, and not even a moment to relax. The master of the house was cunning and cruel, but his wife was even harsher, surpassing her husband in severity.

One bitterly cold night, when the moon shone brightly in the sky, the cruel mistress ordered the girl to fetch water. Trembling from the freezing air, the girl made her way to the pond. The cold had turned her small feet numb, almost like stones. She found the pond partially frozen, the surface solid with ice. Carefully, she broke a hole in the ice to fill her bucket. As she began her slow, painful journey back home with the water, exhaustion overcame her near the house, and she stumbled, spilling all the water she had fetched.

Panic seized her. How could she return to the house empty-handed? Trembling, she stood near the door, afraid of the wrath awaiting her inside. Above her, the moon smiled softly in the sky, almost as if it were watching her sorrow. Feeling helpless, the little girl spoke to the moon, her voice quivering with despair: “Dear Moon, please look at how unhappy I am. Help me. Protect me from these cruel people—they might even harm me.”

The moon heard her pleas. From the sky, it descended gracefully to the earth, taking the form of a handsome young man clad in gleaming white robes. The little girl looked up in amazement as the celestial being approached. Unbeknownst to her, the sun, the moon’s elder brother, had also heard the cries of the suffering child. He too came to the earth, dressed in golden garments, determined to intervene.

The sun approached the moon and said, “Sister, I have come for this poor girl. Give her to me, for I am the elder. I am stronger; she should come with me.”

The moon shook its head gently, its face glowing in the night. “Brother, yes, you are elder and stronger, but it is nighttime now. I am the ruler of the night, and this girl has called upon me for help. She has sought protection from me, so I must take her with me.”

With that, the moon lifted the frightened little girl into its arms and began to ascend into the sky. As they rose higher, the girl’s tears fell away, replaced by wonder and relief. The cold night seemed warmer, and the cruelty of the earthly world faded beneath them. She was finally safe, cradled in the arms of a benevolent celestial guardian.

From that night onward, the little girl lived in the moon, cared for and protected by its gentle light. The moon provided her with all she needed and shielded her from harm. She was no longer alone, no longer fearful, and no longer bound by the harshness of human cruelty. She laughed and sang, her voice filled with joy and innocence.

To this day, it is said that when you gaze at the full moon on the fourteenth night of the lunar month, you can see her smiling and singing from within its silvery glow.

Every full moon since then holds the story of the little girl who became the daughter of the moon, bringing joy to the night sky and inspiring all who look upon it to believe that help comes to those who ask with a sincere heart, even from places they could never imagine.