In a small village surrounded by mountains and green fields, there lived Benjamin, a curious nine-year-old boy who was always seeking adventures. He loved to look out the window of his room on full moon nights, when the world seemed to shine with a special light. One of those nights, while everyone was asleep, something strange happened.
Benjamin heard a distant noise that grew closer and closer. It was like a soft whistle, but also something metallic, as if something very large was moving along rails. Intrigued, he put on his boots and ran toward the old train station, which had been abandoned for years. To his surprise, there it was: a long, shiny train under the moonlight. Its carriages were of different colors, as if each one held a unique secret.
“Who’s there?” asked Benjamin, though no one was in sight.
A soft voice, like an echo, responded from the train:
“Welcome to the Train of Forgotten Memories. Get on if you want to discover what you’ve left behind.”
Without thinking twice, Benjamin boarded the first carriage. Inside, everything was filled with boxes and small trunks. In each one, there were objects that seemed familiar, but that he didn’t remember seeing in a long time. There was a drawing he had made when he was younger, a broken spinning top that had once been his favorite toy, and a scarf knitted by his grandmother. As he touched them, images of happy moments returned to his mind: laughter with his family, afternoons playing in the park, and winter days warming up by the fireplace.
“These are my memories…” said Benjamin, amazed.
“Yes,” replied the soft voice. “But not all memories are easy to carry. Keep going if you want to understand more.”
The second carriage was different. It was full of shadows and broken objects. There was a deflated ball, a crumpled letter, and a stopped clock. When he touched them, Benjamin felt sadness. He remembered difficult moments: a fight with his best friend, a task he couldn’t finish on time, and a day when he felt alone. Tears began to fall down his face.
“Why do I have to remember sad things?” he asked, wiping his eyes.
“Because learning from them is part of growing up,” the voice answered. “You can’t let go of the bad if you don’t face it first.”
With a heavy heart, Benjamin moved on to the third carriage. This one was different from the others. It was full of light and soft music. On the walls, there were photographs and small chests that shone like stars. When he opened one, he found a note written by his mom that said: “I will always be proud of you.” In another, there was a necklace his sister had given him for his birthday. Each object made him feel warm and happy.
“These are the memories that truly matter,” said the voice. “The ones that help you be strong and move forward.”
Benjamin then understood that not all memories had to stay with him. The bad ones could teach him something, but he didn’t need to carry them forever. The good ones, on the other hand, were like treasures he should cherish in his heart.
Before getting off the train, he reached the last carriage. There, there was a large mirror. When Benjamin looked into it, he saw not only his reflection but also all the important people in his life: his family, his friends, his teacher. They were all smiling and waving at him.
“The train exists to remind you of what truly matters,” said the voice. “But it only appears to those willing to open their hearts and remember.”
When Benjamin got off the train, it began to slowly move, disappearing into the darkness of the night. The boy returned home with a smile on his face. He knew that, although the train was gone, the memories he had recovered would always stay with him.
From that night on, Benjamin changed. He began writing his favorite moments in a notebook so he would never forget them. He also learned to talk to his friend when they had problems, instead of holding grudges. And every time he saw a full moon, he remembered the magical journey on the Train of Forgotten Memories.
Thus, Benjamin understood that life is made of moments, and the good ones should be cared for like treasures, while the bad ones can be lessons to help us move forward.
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