It was a stormy night. Laura had come back home. She had broken off with everything. It was raining with violence but she couldn't even notice the tears falling from her face, nor her soaking wet clothes. Because pain is this way, and when it's very strong, it becomes dull. She walked through the important places of her childhood, searching for answers, and wondering when her life started to go wrong. She saw her old house in the tree, and without thinking it twice, she climbed. She turned on the old oil lamp, and wrote in a paper: "And when does one start to go wrong in life?" The following day was radiantly sunny, and she went back to the tree house. She wanted to see it again, but this time under the light of the sun. She climbed up, and found a note in the floor that said: "When we stop living as we want, to start living as others want us to live". When she read the note, Laura was very shocked. It seemed an answer to her note... but it was impossible. She searched in every corner but there was no traces of her own note. She looked outside, but there was nobody. Everything was in silence. Could that note be there the previous night and maybe she didn't see it? Feeling an impulse, she wrote another note: "And why do we live as others want us to live?", and threw it to the floor like in the previous night. During all the day, she found herself looking over her shoulder to see if someone was after her. At night, she returned to the tree house. She could not contain herself. And she found another note, that said:"Because we seek the acceptance of others". Her hand started trembling. That was a madness. But she wrote another note: "And why, when we have the acceptance of others, we are not happy?" The following morning, she returned to the tree house. That game could be dangerous, but she worried no more. She wanted answers. Now, her greatest fear was not finding another note. When she saw a paper in the floor, her heart jumped. "Because acceptance starts for oneself". When she read that, she started to cry, very strong and loud. Because, some way, those words had returned her to life. And we cry when we're born. That way, Laura cried like a new born baby that discovers light and life. And she wrote another note: "And who are you?" That night she came back to the tree house. And with her shaking hands, she took the new note, that said "Your heart". And then, Laura felt as if her body fell from very high. She opened her eyes. It was night still. It was raining with violence. She was very excited. She had a hard work to do: start living, but this time, truly. Images (in order): Impure Thoughts,by JusT-ShanT; Old House Down By The Swamp, by RobinRoels; House In Tree, by Hanci; The Road Home, by AsylumWitch.

Everyday, all those who loved him cried in silence. At the back of the room there was that child of pale skin and dark sad eyes. His smile was so sweet, and his voice was a breeze that slipped away like sand spilling through fingers. One day, that child, called Jonathan, received a pleasant surprise. His friends had come to visit him. The three children made his house recover life again. Between laughs and smiles, they remembered their pranks and games. Little Jonathan said "Do you guess what I would like to do? To go back to the forest. We, all together... but that's impossible... I'll never go out from this room". All of them felt sad. Then, the little girl called Maggie turned her face, with her eyes covered with tears. Alan, said "And why don't we go there now?". Everybody looked at each other. Michael opened the wardrobe and said to Jonathan: "Take this, wrap yourself up. We're going". The children escaped through the window. The forest was not too far. They were so happy. Suddenly, Jonathan found a key in the ground. Each one of them started to let their imagination fly about who could be the owner of that key, and what may it open. "It must be the key of a treasure chest", said one. "Not, it's the key of a palace", said another one. They talked for a long time about the origin of that key. "Keep it with you, Jonathan, as you found it", said Alan, the youngest of them, and everybody agreed. The following week, Jonathan left them forever. Everyone of them cried for him. Maggie said to Jonathan's mother: "Is Jonathan carrying the key?" "That key that he always had with him in his last days? Whose is that key?", she asked. And Maggie replied "It's Saint Peter's. He lost his key, and Jonathan went to Heaven to give it back". The three children agreed with that. His mother put the key inside his little hands. And Jonathan left for that place were nobody has come back. His little face showed peace and joy. Photos: The Key, by negativemarionette, and In The Forest, by Hartmut Lerch.

When Mary was born, her father bought a teddy bear. For many years, the little bear was Mary's confident and she played and slept with him. Mary grew up, but the bear kept on being witness of the secrets that Mary told to him. One day, Mary brought a friend home and she laughed at Mary when she saw the old teddy bear. She said that Mary seemed a little child. So Mary, ashamed and angered, asked her mother to throw away that old teddy bear. So the bear ended in the trash can, crying in silence and thinking in what could he have done for deserving that her owner had felt so much despise for him. He met another toy, and it said him: "Don't be sad, this is normal. I was only for one year in my owner's home and he thought I was an outmoded toy, and has thrown me away". "One year? I was for 16 years with my Mary!". Suddenly, a woman that was searching inside the trash can found these two toys, and took them with her. She brought them to a very poor shack. She gave one of the toys to a child that was playing in the courtyard, and he felt very happy. She brought the teddy bear to a little girl that was in a small bed. She was very ill, but when she saw the teddy bear, her eyes shone with a special light. Few days later, the little girl was recovered. Her name was Katie. Katie grew up, and had a child. When her daughter was 6 years old, she gave her the old teddy bear as a present. "Look, my dear daughter, this is a magical bear. My mother said me that he saved my life. Take care of him because he's really old but he will give you very much luck". And the teddy bear smiled as only teddy bears know.

There was a disabled old woman that lived in a forest. She had two nephews. One was tall and strong, the other was very lame and rather clumsy. Each day, her nephews brought all that the old woman may need to her house. But the weaker nephew always felt ashamed for bringing much less things than his cousin. He always lost something in the way. He was tormented by that. He felt very unhappy, and started a competition with his cousin in which he never won. One day, in despair, he went to visit the old woman sooner, and said her: "Dear Aunt, I will never come back here. Mi cousin can look after you much better than me. I am just a hindrance... I always end losing everything and I'm not useful for caring about anyone". The old woman looked at him with sweetness. "You, my nephew, are who brings more happiness to me. Haven't you seen all the beauty and joy that surrounds my house?" The boy saw that all around the house of the old woman there were dozens of fruit trees and flowers of all colors. "Each day that you come, you drop some piece of fruit. You bring the water and pour it over the earth, and thus you water the fields. You are the author of all this, you bring happiness to my days. Your flaws have become virtues, and you are my favorite". Since that day, the boy felt proud of his limp and his clumsiness. And since that day, he had a sparkle in his eyes that lasted forever.

There was a conceited woman that loved to stare her face reflected in a pond. She used to go there when the full moon shone in the sky, because it made her reflection become more enigmatic and beautiful. But as time and years passed away, when the woman saw her face in the pond, she used to cry. The pass of time had marked her, and that gave her a big anguish. One day, when she was knelt in the pond, feeling depressed for her reflection, she saw a strange flower. Its petals were white as snow, white as the moon. When she saw it, she was amazed, and forgot her suffering. Since then, her main purpose was that pale flower, that bloomed into the night. Each night, she gave it all her care. She awaited the night with anxiousness, as if her life depended on it, to go to the pond were this strange flower lived. And the years passed so quickly... And one day, the woman met a conceited youngster that had gone to the pond to watch her face reflected in the waters. The woman said her "Are you coming to see my beautiful flower?" And the young girl answered: "That thing? No, don't you think that flower is ghostly and dreadful?" "Not at all. It is the most beautiful thing that the waters of a pond may ever reflect", said the woman, and suddenly, she vanished like smoke. Since that day, the young girl started to be obsessed with that strange flower. She called it Vanity. And each night, she went to the pond. She gave it all her care and love, as if her life depended on it.

Loch Ness is in Scotland, near the city of Inverness. Loch Ness is a lake of fresh water, with warm waters in the surface and very cold in the depths. It has 56.4 square Km (21.8 square miles). There are some points where the depth reaches 200 meters , in addition to numerous underwater canals that flow to the sea. It's a lake surrounded by mountains, what makes it very shady. It is said that the Loch Ness Monster, also known as Nessie, lives there. The characteristics of the lake make very hard to investigate about the existence of Nessie. Around the legend, it has been created a commerce that benefits the zone: hotels, merchandising, souvenirs, photomontages... But the belief in the existence of a huge creature that inhabits the Loch Ness is not modern. The first reference to the Loch Ness Monster is in 565 A.C. A missionary called Saint Columba encountered a strange creature. Since then, the sightings of these creatures, both inside or out from the water, have been counted in hundreds. Currently, the mysterious creature is "protected" by the law. Following the descriptions made by people who witnessed the monster, it may be some kind of Plesiosaur: a type of marine dinosaur of the Mesozoic Era. It is described as enormous, with long neck, small head and fins. Scientifics deny both the existence of Nessie as well as the possibility that it may be a Plesiosaur. The reason is that these creatures need to breathe air frequently. If it was that way, the sightings would have been much more usual. In addition, the lake is not large enough to ensure the survival of these creatures. An opposite theory would be that these Plesiosaurs would move through the underwater canals of the lake. Scientifics explain these sightings of Nessi like simple mirages, light distortions, confusion with a wood in the water, seals, water effects, or even bubbles produced by volcanic activity. In 1934 some photos of the Loch Ness Monster were taken. But the same people that took those photos confessed that it was a fraud. In 1936, 50 people said that they have seen Nessie during 15 minutes, near the castle of Urquhart. In 1960 T. Dinsale recorded a short video in which a strange shape emerges from the lake. In 1972 Robert H. Rine said that he had been able to photograph two creatures similar to Plesiosaurs. There are hundreds of photomontages. It seems that the myth of Loch Ness is profitable for some, and source of jokes for others. Real or not, who knows? The dark waters of Loch Ness will continue, for many years, being an inexhaustible source of mysterious stories.

There was a distant country that was in war. The King knew that their defeat was near. His soldiers were very weak and their enemies clearly outnumbered their forces. The King was a widower, and he only had a daughter that he loved very much. He thought "I don't care if I die, but I would like to protect my daughter". So he went to the rooms of her daughter, and said her: "Dear daughter, I don't want that my enemies could capture you. I don't care if I die, but I want to keep you safe. So cut off your hair, wear these rags. Here you are the royal jewels. Take a horse and get away from here". The princess said him: "Father, I want to suffer the same luck of the women of our country. I don't fear what they could do to me. I think that what you're asking me is unfair". Her father didn't want to hear her, and forced her to follow his orders. The princess, with her hair cut off, and wearing rags, rode a horse through the night into the forests. At dawn, she was away from her kingdom, and decided to stop and went asleep under a tree. So she was found by some generals of a neighbor realm that were going to help the King. They awoke her and said: "You robber, in the middle of a war you're plundering palaces". And without any opportunity of replying, they killed her. The war was won, and the generals of the neighbor realm knelt before the King. "We are proud of that we have taken part in this war, and we are joyful with your victory. We bring you this". And shaking a sack, they show him his royal jewels. "Here you are the heart of the coward thief that stole your treasures". In that moment, when the King saw the heart of his daughter, he drop dead. In his funeral, everyone commented "How great was the King that died. His gratitude filled his heart so much, that he couldn't bear it".

He was son of a sailor, and grandson of a sailor. Since his early childhood he had learned to love the sea. He loved to watch the fishes. He stayed still behind a rock and watched them swimming. One day, he saw those creatures that sailors mention when they drink too much: the mermaids. Although there were many mermaids, he had eyes just for one. During years, sailor and mermaid met in the same rock. But the other mermaids, feeling anguished for that impossible love, sang a song of oblivion. And the mermaid forgot the sailor. But the sailor kept going to the same rock with a guitar, singing love songs, so some day, the mermaid would remember again. So one day, the mermaid recovered her memories. Thus, the mermaid and the sailor kept meeting in the same rock, because true love can't be caught in oblivion.

It was the day before Christmas and it was cold, very cold. In the middle of that terrible cold, there was a child who sold matches. In her home they were very poor, and in that day she had not sold even one match box. So there was no money to bring home. She was very hungry and was very cold. So she sat in a corner, and from there she could see the Christmas lights, and hear other children's laughs while they were decorating the Christmas tree. She could also smell the turkey. The child was there all alone, and no one cared about her. No one had noticed that there was a poor child dressed with rags, hungry and cold, in the Christmas Eve. She was so cold that lighted a match to warm herself. But soon it went out, and she lighted another and another. Then, suddenly, her mother, that was in the Heaven for years, appeared wearing a white and beautiful dress. The child stared her mother with emotion, and with tears in her eyes, said her: "Mom, why don't you take me with you?" And her mother smiled at her, took her and, and together, they went up through a long stairway surrounded by clouds. The following day, some people saw that child, who sold matches. She seemed to be sleeping. But from that dream she would never wake up. In her face, there was a sweet smile. With this famous tale by Hans Christian Andersen, I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas. And remember that there are many match-sellers like the child of this tale in the world. There are many people that say they hate Christmas, and they say this when they actually don't lack of anything important. Don't look to another side when you see people that are hungry and cold in the Christmas day. My wish is that we all could be happy and value what we have.

The Wolf And The Dog One day, the wolf approached a dog that was guarding the sheep, and said: "Don't be afraid, I won't take any sheep. I just want to know how pleasant is your job". The dog told him: "Not bad. I just have to care the sheep, and praise my owner. So he gives me some bones, and even the leftovers of what he eats!" The wolf stared at the dog. He was big and stout. However, the wolf was hungry and very thin. "Not a bad job at all" -said the wolf- "And what's that thing you are wearing in the neck?" "It's a collar. It's for tying me." "For tying you? Do they tie you? And can't you run free?", asked the wolf. "Run? Where to? And what for?" The wolf said goodbye to the dog. And ran free through the forest, feeling the wind and smelling the country flowers. Then, he remembered the dog, and felt sorry for him. The Wolf And The Mother The wolf saw the farmer getting away from his house. And thought "This is the chance to get close and try to steal some food". He approached the house and saw a woman with a baby in her arms. The mother was saying to the baby: "Don't you cry. If you cry, the wolf will hear you, and he is very strong and big". When the wolf heard this, felt very proud of himself. And, praised, watched his own image reflected in the window. Amazed of his image, got distracted, and when he noticed, the woman was pointing at him with a shotgun. The wolf stared her frightened. But her shotgun jammed, and was unable to fire the wolf. This way, the wolf was able to scape. The wolf watched the woman from between the bushes. No one was never so close to kill him. She seemed fragile and weak. Since that day, he never trusted those who seem weak and flattering. The Wolf And The Sheep Once upon a time, a wolf saw a sheep that was tied. And thought "How easy will be to hunt her". When he approached the sheep, she said "Do you know why my owner tied me? Because I am very dangerous and the flock is in danger with me." The wolf laughed, and said her "You silly, you try to fool me..." The sheep answered "Do you think my owner would risk to loose my wool, my milk and my meat?" The wolf went away. Having so much self confidence... she must be right. Nowadays, that sheep is still laughing at that wolf.

The man that couldn't see anybody In the Kingdom of Qi, there was a very greedy man who loved the gold. One day walking by the square, dressed with his best clothes, he saw a man who was selling gold. He quickly closed to him and stole him a big piece of gold in front of everyone's eyes, and went out running. When he was captured, they asked him: -"Why did you steal a piece of gold in front of everybody?" And he answered - "Because I didn't see anybody, I only could see a big piece of gold!!!" The suspect One day a man lost his axe, and suspected his neighbour's son. He stayed staring at that boy. And the boy walked like a thief, talked like a thief, and he behaved like a thief. Yes, he was sure: he was a thief. The following day, he found his axe in the valley. Without a doubt, he had forgotten it there. And in that very moment, he saw his neighbour's son. The boy walked like a good boy, talked like a good boy, and he behaved like a good boy. Yes, he was sure: he was a good boy. The parable of the study "I'm a seventy years old man"- said the Duke Ping Ying to his musician Shi Kuang- "I would like to be studying, learning and reading some books, but it's too late, I'm very old." Shi Kuang asked him- "Why? Maybe your candle doesn't light?" The Duke Ping Ying, feeling angry, said: "Shameless! Do you laugh at me?" "Me?" -said Shi Kuang- "Oh no, my Lord, I don't laugh at you. One day I heard this: -When someone studies when is young, his future is bright like the sun at dawn. -When someone studies when is middle aged, is like the sun in the morning. -And when someone studies when is old, is like the light in a candle. Even thought the candle doesn't bright too much, that it's better than walking in the darkness." And the duke moved his head in sign of approval. Without a doubt, in fables, you can always learn something. And, in some of them, so much...

Once upon a time, in the medieval times of Cordoba, a nobleman and his servant were in the flea market when they meet the Death. When they saw the Death, both stayed paralyzed by fear. And the Death made a strange grimace, pointed to them and said: "When the night comes, the Death awaits you in Cordoba", and vanished into the air. The servant, very nervous, said to his master: "My Lord, Death pointed to me! Master, I've been always loyal to you... the Death pointed to me! I don't wanna die! I am too young, and have a wife and children..." And the nobleman stare at him with compassion, and said: "Let's go home. Take my fastest steed, and ride, ride as far as you can before the night comes. Go far away from Cordoba, so the Death can't take you." "Thanks, my Lord", replied the servant, "I will always be loyal to you and I will never forget this kind gesture". When the night came, the Death knocked on the nobleman's door. And he went out and said to the Death: "You arrive too late. My servant is by this time far from Cordoba". And the Death answered: "Your... servant? ... I was not here for your servant... I came to take you with me." In that precise moment, the nobleman felt a strong pain in his chest, and drop dead to the floor. In conclusion, nobody can fool the Death. And let's remember what the vikings used to say: "Nobody dies the day before". To frame this tale, nobody is better than the Spanish Gothic artist Victoria Frances.

One upon a time in a far away place, lived a peasant who loved very much his village and his people. One day, when he was going for water to the lake, the huts began to burn. When he returned from the lake, he felt horrified for seeing his village in flames. All that he loved was burning. And he ran, ran very much to the lake, and he swear to the Heaven that he could give his live in exchange for saving his village. And hugged the water and turned running to the village, and with his body he extinguished the flames. He returned to the lake forever with his deformed appearance and his skin fill of blisters. When he eats remembers his former life and drops tears of nostalgia. He will be called Crocodile forever. Sometimes we fear those who we most admire.