The courage to be truthful: Dare to be honest!

Courage for the Truth: A Story from the Nefl Valley

In the Neflental, under the frosty night, the stars glittered especially brightly, reflecting on the crystal lake. The cold made the lake appear like a glassy surface. In the winter air, the light crackled so clearly that even the stilt houses of the Flossians seemed crafted from sparkling ice. Each breath became a small cloud of mist, and the frost transformed the fern forest into a sea of silver-white.

The mysterious frosty night at Crystal Lake

The frosty night had arrived. The snowy forest lay calm and still. Snowflakes danced softly in the moonlight. It seemed as though they held tiny luminous memories within them. From afar, the sound of bells rang out from the valley. The mountains stood dark and mighty on the horizon.

On the shore of the Crystal Lake, the Flossians walked along the jetties of their lake dwellings. They lived half in the water and half on land. Their wooden houses stood on sturdy piles in the clear water. Mussels and pearls adorned the walls in colourful patterns, depicting tales from the depths.

On this special evening, Rosa Immergrün crept out of the fern forest towards the lake. She had promised to accept an invitation from the Flossians. Little butterflies of courage fluttered in her stomach, for she carried a secret with her. It was not a pleasant feeling. She didn't know if she should tell the truth. But she also knew: courage is being honest, even when it is difficult.

The truth in the heart

The Flossians prepared a feast. Colourful lanterns floated on the lake. Shell arches and pearl garlands sparkled in the silver light. At the edge of the fire bowl, the Flossians sang a song that sounded like the lapping of small waves.

Everyone waited for Rosa Immergrün to tell a story. But Rosa sat still. She felt the cold wind on her cheeks. She knew she had disappointed her friend Lian because she had accidentally broken his mosaic and then stayed silent. She was afraid the others might become sad or angry.

The courage to speak the truth was not easy. But she remembered how brightly the stars shone and how they made the lake reflect them. In this way, good friends also want to be open with each other, so that hearts can remain open.

Rosa Immergrün shows courage in the face of truth

Suddenly Rosa stood up and looked around. She swallowed briefly, but her voice became firm. „Lian, I have to say something. Your mosaic got broken. It was me. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away. I was afraid you wouldn’t be my friend anymore.“ The silence in the circle was profound.

Lian looked at Rosa. He was surprised at first, but then he smiled softly. „Thank you for being honest. I think it's brave to tell the truth,“ he said. The sparkle of the stars fell on their faces, and suddenly the air felt lighter again. The others nodded. Everyone had accidentally done something they regretted.

And so the festival by Crystal Lake became a special celebration. The music sounded warmer because the ice on Rosa's heart had melted. Snowflakes sparkled in the light, as if wanting to preserve the memory of this moment forever. And together, the friends created a new, even more beautiful mosaic. The story was captured in pearls and shells, and is now part of the tales adorning the pile dwellings.

What do we learn from this?

Sometimes it takes a lot of courage to be honest. But the truth can be like starlight: it brings trust and new hope. Courage in the face of truth is a gift – for yourself and for everyone you care about. In the Neflental, the friends remained closely connected in the frost-night light. And perhaps you can still hear their laughter in the sound of distant bells.

You want the book „Order “Rosa Immergrün and the Golden Oak Leaf" – click here!. Feel free to take Contact the author Kira Kimmelmann Read more short stories by Pink evergreen here.