Allan moved slowly around his bedroom, fluffing his pillows and enjoying the rare luxury of getting into bed early in the evening. With a snowstorm coming, the older man was happy to stay in bed and sleep safely and warm.

Just as he was about to get into bed, he looked outside his window and saw something hiding in the bushes. 

He opened the door and found his young neighbor, her face pale and anxious. “Mr Rogers, there’s a creature in your backyard. It must be freezing.”The young girl sounded worried. Allan thanked her and went to check on the animal. But as he got closer, he started to feel nervous, and his face went pale; this was something he hadn’t imagined.

He saw the brown animal curled up near the fence as he got closer. 

Allan kept his distance, his heart beating faster as he looked at the creature. As he got closer, his breathing got faster because he realized it was a baby deer! 

Allan felt his heart beating faster as he watched the deer from a safe distance.

Allan was determined to do something, so he put on an extra jumper, a thick scarf, and old gardening gloves. He hoped that they would protect him. Feeling bulky and uncertain, he got ready for whatever lay ahead. 

The deer wasn’t just huddled against the fence for warmth; it was tangled up. Its legs were stuck between the wooden slats, and it had scratched and bent the pickets. The fawn hadn’t moved for hours.

Allan got down on his knees to take a closer look. 

He would need a tool to rescue the fawn from the fence. 

Allan went outside and carefully approached the fawn as snow gathered on its fragile body. Using the hammer, he carefully broke away the wooden slats that held its leg. He used his arm to protect the fawn from any other dangers.

The fawn’s leg was free with the last piece of wood removed. Allan stepped back, expecting it to move, but it remained glued to the spot.

Allan had an idea – maybe he could lure the fawn with food.

Allan hurried towards the kitchen, heading straight for the freezer. He grabbed a bag of carrots, hoping the food might coax the baby deer away.

He placed a carrot within the fawn’s reach. The baby deer’s nose twitched as it caught the smell but remained in place, not even moving.

Undeterred, Allan laid a trail of carrots, each piece leading gradually toward the shed. The deer’s head lifted slightly, its nostrils flaring as it sniffed the air, finally catching the scent of the carrots.

Slowly and carefully, it inched forward, driven by hunger. It grabbed a carrot and started eating but stopped to think about what was happening. The baby deer carefully followed the trail, taking it one step at a time. Finally, it reached the shed. It worked! The fawn had moved away from where it had been standing. 

Allan quickly closed the shed door to protect the baby deer from the snow. The deer lay on the floor, eyes half-closed and body still. It was utterly exhausting.

Allan carefully put the baby deer near the fireplace, wrapping it tightly in a thick blanket. 

He grabbed his phone, shaking his hands, and called his friend, the local vet. “You have to help me,” he begged. The vet, understanding how serious the situation was, answered straight away. “Bring the fawn in, Allan. I’ll get everything ready,” he replied.

Allan moved quickly, scooping the baby deer tightly with the blanket, its fragile body still trembling. Allan rushed outside, battling the fierce wind as he placed it in his car, gently securing it on the passenger seat.

He stopped the car quickly and carried the fawn inside.

When he arrived at the vet’s office, Allan was happy to see the deer awake, its eyes brighter than the night before. The deer trotted over to him, its pace weak but determined.

The vet called the local animal shelter and arranged for the baby deer to be moved to a wildlife sanctuary once it had fully healed. The vet told Allan the sanctuary would provide the care and freedom the deer needed to be happy and healthy.

As the baby deer got stronger, Allan felt sad and thought about saying goodbye. Although they had only known each other for a short time, their time together had been very special. 

The day came when the shelter team took the baby deer to its new home.

As the sanctuary truck disappeared into the snowy distance, Allan stood silently, happy and sad. In that moment, he realized that the storm had not just tested his courage but also reminded him of the quiet power of compassion and will.