Clara had been studying giants since she had memory.

And, though it was the most amazing thing in the world for her… others seemed to disagree. In fact, they considered her knowledge to be weird and useless, since all giants ever did was to pass by without interacting with the village.

So as time passed and people kept making fun of her, she decided she didn’t really need them, she’d be happy if she never had to see another person again … and she figured out a plan to make that possible.

After she had settled in, the giant spoke to Clara: “Hello human, I see you plan to stay on my shoulder, would you be so kind to scare the small creatures that bite me?” “of course I will!” she immediately answered, but she knew she was too small and too far from the giant’s ear to actually be heard.

For a while she felt happy, she had accomplished her dream and could finally focus only on what mattered to her. Scaring the creatures wasn’t even a difficult task. But eventually her supplies diminished, and she realized: she had never asked the farmer how to grow food, or the seamstress how to fix her clothes, and though she hated to admit it, she missed the sound of other people’s voices.

She refused to go back to the life she had before, but it was clear she couldn’t survive here alone so she did the only thing she could think of: asking for help.

The journey to the giant’s ear was long and difficult, it was a dangerous place for a human. But she managed to reach it. After not having been able to talk to anyone for so long, she started to speak about all her problems and everything she had been through, but also about the dreams she had and everything she had ever wished for. When she finally got everything off her chest, the giant replied: “You were quick to help me when I asked, you had no questions or complaints, why did you wait so long to ask for my help then? After learning so much about me and treating me so well, why did you think you didn’t deserve the same?”

The giant couldn’t make food for Clara, nor could it mend her clothes, but they agreed it would take her to the nearest village, where she could once again ask for help. She was surprised to see how people were actually interested in her story, and willing to teach her whatever she asked about.

Once she was back on the giant they both decided they’d stop again every time she needed it. And, in every village, she found someone who, just like her, wanted to escape. She kept welcoming every one of them until they were enough that they rarely had to stop.

Almost without realizing it, Clara had built a village of her own. It was never being alone that she needed, but surrounding herself with the right people.