When the universe was formed more than thirteen billion years ago, Time was born along with the galaxies, its planets, and the twinkling stars. Amazed by what he saw, Time gladly explored the universe. He started traveling to different planets from every galaxy and counted each star that he sees along the way. After taking a very long trip, Time suddenly felt tired. He went to the nearest galaxy and decided to take a rest on the first planet that he saw. Just like the others, the planet is dark and cold as well. Time was tired and the mood of the place made him felt empty and sad.

 “Poor planet. Not a single star is here to bring you light”, he sadly uttered.

 “You’re probably sad too”.

 He looked around. Everything that he sees are still shining as before. But behind this light, he can’t seem to avoid seeing the darkness. He feels empty inside. But he doesn’t know what it is that’s missing or how to even start filling that void.

“Why am I here?”, he asked.

“What am I? Who am I?” Questions started running in his mind. He doesn’t know what to answer first and where to start finding answers.

And then, in the middle of these thoughts, he found his chance. He found the planet that shines above all others. The planet that reminded him of the very beginning-colorful and alive. Time did not hesitate to go the planet. Uncertain of what awaits him, he still chose to follow his positive feeling about it. The planet is covered with green and blue colors. Looking at it from the outside, the colors alone tells how lively it is. But little did Time know that there’s more to what this planet holds other than its colors. And he is soon to find out what it is.

Time did not know how long he was taking the trip already. All that he was feeling is the heat rising as he moves closer to the planet.

 Safe and sound, he reached the planet. There he saw not an empty space, but a green land that grows life. And an ocean as blue as the sky. He watched the trees dance as the warm breeze blew and listened to the birds singing as they fly freely in the sky. Again, he looked around. And there he saw another sign of life. He saw some creatures who are very much alike. So, he went down to the ground and walked towards them. There are twelve of these creatures. Time was surprised when he heard them talking to one another.

 “You’re like me?!”, Time confusingly exclaimed with a bit of excitement.

“Maybe not. We’re humans, but all of us here are just kids. You don’t look like a human to me”, one kid answered.

The twelve children went back to what they are doing. Time is sad because he’s not one of them. But still, he’s happy now that he’s not alone anymore. He looked at them once again. What he saw was sadness in their eyes. He can tell that some of them are about to cry.

 “Is there something I can help you with?”, he kindly asked.

They all looked at him with a pleading face, telling him the answer without a need for words.

Time went to the forest to look for food. Along the way, he saw lots of fruit bearing trees. And so, he began to climb every tree to pick some of those sweet fruits. Time filled his two large baskets with equal amount of those fruits. What’s placed in the first basket is also the same with the other one. Carrying the two baskets-one at his back and the other in front-he started walking again. But suddenly, a huge angry lion appeared and blocked his way.

 “Who are you?! How dare you steal from my kingdom!”, angrily the lion asked.

 “My name is Time, mister Lion”, he answered.

“Did anyone out there told you that nobody has ever had the courage to enter this forest. My forest?! And yet you, you came here. And I’m beginning to think that you already want to die”.

Time did not answer immediately. Only a short period of silence occurred within the forest.

“Here, mister Lion. These are for you”. Time gave one of the baskets to the lion.

 “Now you’re offering me that basket so you could live”, said the Lion.

“I’m not stealing anything from you. This forest belongs to everyone. My friends already told me about you. They said that inside this forest, there lives a selfish monster. But I want to help my friends. They’re hungry and this is the best place to find food. I brought two baskets, thinking that you might be hungry too because just like them, you have no one to help you”, said Time.

“I’m a lion. I don’t need any help”, replied the Lion.

“I may not be from your world, but I know some things. Those who don’t seek help when they need it are the weak ones because they lack the  courage to do so. I know you’re not a monster. You’re just sad and alone and you don’t want anyone to see that because you think that they will hurt you”.

 “Young Time, why do you care so much about others?”, the lion asked.

“Because they’re my friends. I used to be alone, but now I found them, and I also found you”, he answered with a warm smile.

Without any words, mister Lion walked towards the basket and took something to eat. The two of them became friends. And Time said goodbye to his new dear friend, mister Lion.

The twelve children saw Time coming from the forest holding the basket of fruits. They hurriedly run to him and took the basket. Time happily watched the twelve children as they eat silently.

Two days passed..... The clouds are dark and the air is a bit colder. Later on, the rain started to pour for the first time. The twelve children began to cry as the pouring rain fell upon them. Time is sad to see his friends suffering. He doesn’t want any of them to be sick so he tried to think of a way to help the children. He saw some plants with big leaves, enough to protect someone from getting wet. He hurriedly picked twelve pieces of those leaves and gave each child a piece. He also took one for himself. Finally, the twelve children stopped crying. The next day, Time went to the forest again to look for food and some tree branches. While walking, he once again saw mister Lion.

 “Young Time, is there something I can help you with?”, asked mister Lion.

 “Good day mister Lion! Do you know where I can find some tree branches. I want to build a shelter for my friends”, said Time.

 “Hmmm. Well then, follow me and I’ll show you where you can get them”.

They both took a walk in the forest as mister Lion showed Time the way to the branches.

When he came back carrying a bunch of tree branches and some foods, he heard familiar voices shouting. And there, he saw the twelve children fighting each other.

 “My dear friends, I’m back. Please stop”, Time said, asking them to stop fighting.

“We’re all hungry and this apple is all that’s left, but it’s not enough for the twelve of us”, one of them explained.

 “You don’t have to worry now. I already brought some foods. Here, take this”. Time passed the basket to the twelve children and let them choose what they want to eat.

Time is not feeling well. He didn’t want the children to worry so he went to mister Lion and there, he took a rest. One of the children felt hungry. He checked the basket to see if there’s food to eat. But it was all empty. The twelve children looked for Time but they couldn’t see him nor do they know where he went. For days, they waited for Time but not a single sign of him even showed. They’re all hungry and tired of searching. The rain began to pour again and the twelve children got wet.

Time finally woke up. “How are you feeling, young Time”, mister Lion asked. “My friends! I have to go!”, said Time. Worried about the children, he ran as fast as he could just to see them again. When he returned, the children are still there. Some of them are sleeping while the others are sitting on the ground, wearing both sad and angry faces. As he walked towards them, the children stood up angrily.

“You! You shouldn’t be here. You made us all starved to death and now you’re here!”, says one of the children.

“Please my friend, don’t get mad. Let me explain”, Time said worriedly.

“No! we’re not your friends. You’re no human, therefore you’re not one of us”, says another child.

 “He’s right. You should leave. We’ve waited for you and now that you came back, you didn’t bring any food. You didn’t even build a shelter. What if we all get sick?!”, said the other one.

 “Don’t ever come back. We don’t need you here”, another added. Without saying any words, Time left. He cried and cried and just kept on walking, with nowhere to go.

 It’s nearly sundown. Not from afar, he saw a small lake and went there. Time looked at the water and there, he saw his reflection. “Why can’t I find anyone who looks like me? I don’t know where to go and now, I no longer have friends”, Time said as tears continue to fall from his eyes. “What’s the problem young Time?”, says an unfamiliar voice. He looked up as a bright light shined upon the place.

“Who are you? Why do you know my name?”, he asked.

“I am Sun, the star that shines brightest only in daylight. I saw you before, wandering off our galaxy”, Sun explained. “Mister Sun, aren’t you sad to be alone in the sky, having no one by your side?”, Time asked

“Why would I be? Young Time, just because I’m the only one you see in daylight, doesn’t mean I’m all alone. All the stars are still there. They’re just too far to be seen and I happen to be the nearest one on this planet”.

“But aren’t you tired of helping others without asking for anything in return?”, Time curiously asked.

“No, young Time, and never will I ever get tired. I am a star and it is my job to give light to those who are lost and  to those who are afraid of getting lost. Sometimes young Time, the best thing that we can do for others is to be there and help them through darkest days and colder nights, even if they have nothing to offer nor cannot see us. That’s what friends do”, says mister Sun.

Finally, Time has cleared his thoughts. Before mister Sun went down, Time thanked him and bid farewell. Wearing a smile on his face, he turned around and made his way back to the twelve children’s place. The next day, the twelve children are awake at last. They were surprised to see a small hut near the forest exit. They went to see what’s inside and there, they saw mister Lion. “You’re awake. Don’t worry, if I wanted to eat you, I would’ve done it when you’re all still sleeping”, mister Lion said. “What are you doing outside the forest?”, asks one child.

“I’m only here because I owe a friend. This hut is for the twelve of you”, he explained.

The children are both confused and somewhat happy to know that they now have a shelter. “This is for you. Read what’s inside”. Mister Lion handed them a rolled piece of a tree’s bark. “I must leave now”, says mister Lion as he walked out the door. “Oh. And please learn not to fight anymore. You only have each other now. Try to live well”. Mister Lion left the children.

They gathered and unfolded the rolled piece of tree’s bark. They saw a written letter.

My dearest friends,

I’m truly glad that I met all twelve of you. My days with you are indeed the best moment of my life and I really don’t want it to end. Because of you, I no longer doubt myself. You helped me find my purpose and know who I truly am. I am Time, and I am your guide.

Sadly, I had to leave. But don’t be afraid because I’ll always be with you though you see me not. Along with the sun that lights up your way, I’ll be the one to guide you and help you to think, decide, and do things without worrying about the sundown. I’ll be your friend for the longest life of mine.

                                                                                                 Your forever friend,

                                                                                                                                                     Time   

The twelve children never again, saw Time since that day. They became friends with mister Lion. They learned to look for their own food to eat and took good care of the small hut that Time had built for them.

Years passed....

The twelve children are now grown-ups. They learned to do a lot of things. At times, they still fight and have troubles in finding food that they can eat. But after that, they’ll just know that everything’s fine already, like nothing has ever happened. Like someone is always helping them get through the day.