In a small, cozy village nestled beside a winding river in a land far away, lived a little girl named Mei. Mei had bright, curious eyes and a heart full of quiet dreams. Every evening, before the stars came out like tiny lanterns in the sky, Mei would sit by her window and watch the river flow gently past. She loved the soft gurgle of the water and the way it seemed to whisper secrets as it travelled on its long journey.
One sunny afternoon, Mei’s grandmother taught her how to fold paper into wonderful shapes. They made cranes that looked ready to fly and little boxes that could hold tiny treasures. But Mei’s favorite shape of all was a simple boat. With careful fingers, she creased and folded the smooth paper until a perfect miniature vessel appeared in her hands. It had a little pointed bow and a sturdy base, ready to sail on the mightiest of puddles, or perhaps, even the river.
Mei decided her paper boat needed a very special purpose. She thought about the river's long journey and wondered what kind of message a little boat might carry. She remembered seeing glowing lanterns float on the water during festivals, each one carrying a wish or a hope out into the world. Mei didn't have a glowing lantern, but she had her sturdy paper boat.
She took a tiny scrap of paper, even smaller than her boat, and with a little brush dipped in ink, she drew a picture. It was a picture of a happy little tree growing tall and strong, reaching its branches up to the sun. Mei hoped that if her little drawing sailed on the river, it would carry a wish for everything to grow well and strong in the village.
Carefully, she placed the tiny drawing inside the paper boat. She walked down to the riverbank as the sun began to dip below the hills, painting the sky in soft oranges and pinks. The river looked calm and welcoming. Mei knelt by the water's edge, held her little boat for just a moment, and made her silent wish for growth and happiness.
Then, she gently placed the paper boat on the surface of the water. At first, it bobbed a little uncertainly, as if deciding whether it was brave enough for the journey. But then, a tiny current caught it, and the little boat began to move, slowly at first, then picking up speed as it joined the river's flow. Mei watched, her heart full of quiet excitement.
She followed the boat with her eyes as it drifted downstream, past reeds and stones, a tiny white speck against the shimmering water. It looked like a little dream sailing away. Mei knew her paper boat might not travel all the way to the sea, and her wish might not be granted by the boat itself, but the act of creating and sending it felt special and hopeful. It was a small, simple thing, but it filled her with a warm, happy feeling.
As the light faded and her little boat disappeared around a bend in the river, Mei smiled. She had sent her hope out into the world on a tiny paper sail. She walked back home, feeling peaceful and content, ready for sweet dreams of rivers, paper boats, and growing things. And as she snuggled into bed, she knew she could make another boat, and another wish, anytime she liked.