“Please set me free…”
Once, in the heart of the wild, this elephant was a symbol of strength, wisdom, and freedom. He walked proudly under the endless sky, surrounded by family, by love, and by the song of nature itself. His spirit was boundless, and his life was written in the wind, the rivers, and the earth.
But today, that same giant — once so free — is reduced to a life of loneliness and despair. No vast forest surrounds him, no herd calls his name. Instead, he stands trapped, behind iron and concrete, under the watch of humans who see him not as a being with a soul, but as a spectacle.
The weight of captivity has crushed not only his body but also his spirit. His legs ache from standing on hard ground never meant for him. His skin, covered with dust and scars, tells the silent story of years of suffering. Yet, the most heartbreaking pain cannot be seen — it lives in his eyes. Eyes that once sparkled with curiosity now reflect only sadness, emptiness, and a longing for something he may never touch again: freedom.
Every day is a repetition of silence. Every night is a cage of loneliness. He remembers the warmth of his mother, the joy of playing as a calf, the feeling of grass beneath his feet — memories that now haunt him like shadows in the dark. He bows his head, not in submission, but in grief too heavy for words.
And yet, even in his suffering, he whispers a silent prayer:
“Please set me free… Please let me live once more, not as a prisoner, but as who I was meant to be.”
This plea is not only his. It is the plea of every animal trapped in cages, paraded for entertainment, or enslaved for profit. It is a cry that echoes in the heart of humanity, demanding compassion, demanding change.
The elephant does not ask for much — not for riches, not for power, not even for comfort. All he asks is for the chance to walk once more under the open sky, to feel the earth breathe beneath his feet, and to reunite with the freedom that was stolen from him.
When you look into his eyes, you will see not just an elephant. You will see a soul. A soul broken by cruelty, but still clinging desperately to hope. A soul that reminds us of the cost of captivity and the cruelty of silence.
And perhaps the saddest truth of all is this: he may never be free again. Yet still, his silent cry lingers… “Please set me free…”