The cabin near the lemon tree

A boy - who was deeply saddened by the refusal of his father concerning the choice of his future - was running into the forest, sobbing.

As he was going deeper and deeper into the woods, he found himself on a trail. He looked around and realized the path was already running far behind him now, though he did not exactly know for how long had he been wandering in the woods. Or for how long had he been on this trail. Ahead of him, he spotted among the trees the shape of what looked like a wooden cabin. As he walked towards it, he saw that it was a cabin indeed, the very typical old wood-made cabin. A lemon tree was standing on its left.

Wiping the tears out of his face, the boy walked closer and closer to the tree as the rays of the sun were diving through the well-furnished branches. Never in his life had he seen lemons that yellow and bright.

He picked a fruit off the tree, then stared at it in the sun light. That was when he suddenly heard noises coming from inside the cabin. The lemon still in hand, he carefully approached the door - which was slightly opened, he realized - of the tiny home. He pushed the door completely, only to discover a vast interior space.

Amazed by what was laying before his eyes, the young man stepped into the house. He saw a spacious living room where a little girl was busy cooking and tidying. And in the back, stairs climbing up and up without reaching any ceiling or any end, leading to dozens and dozens of doors and hallways.

“Woah!”

“Oh you’re here!” said the little girl, rising her head. “So tell me, do you like it?”

Here, two things struck the boy. Despite the fact he entered the house as a complete stranger, the tone of the little girl was neither scared nor worried at all. It was warm and welcoming. Also, he was literally standing right in the middle of the room now, right in front of her but she was not looking at him directly. Actually, it seemed like she did not look at him at all.

“- You can talk you know, you have no reason to be afraid, I won’t bite you. Except, maybe, if you refuse to taste this lemon pie coming right out of the oven!” said the young blind girl as she took the pie out.

“- Do...do we know each other?” asked the boy.

“- No, not yet!”

Her smile and laugh were as bright as the lemons outside. She was releasing a warm aura, that was full of joy, which the boy felt deep inside somehow. He looked up, turning on himself, a big smile coming upon his face.

“- This is awesome! But how is it possible? The cabin looks so...tiny from outside!

- Oh, it depends of what I want and how I feel you know. But I thought you would like some space and some greatness!

- You knew I was coming..?

- Well, who do you think did I cook this pie for?

- But h-how ? Where do you come from ? How can you do all this ? And - I’m sorry - are you blind?

- Oh I am not blind, I see perfectly. Only, not like you see. Now enough questions! Time is running, take some potholders and help me. You’re only the first child, we have a lot of pies to do !”

The young man hesitated, then laughed.

“- Uh… ok!” he said. “Oh, I’m coming right up!”

And as the little girl took out a plate for the next pie, the young man grabbed the front door to close it.

But at the last moment, he stopped his motion and left it just slightly open.