Whispers of Childhood
The golden hues of flowers scattered across the sky, blending into the abyss of white clouds, painting them with dark, fluffy shades. I leaned back into my thoughts, wearing a withered smile, and in that moment, I could sense her watching me, curious about the stream of memories running through my mind.
Wrapped in the mist of old recollections, I felt myself slipping through a tunnel of time, chasing a fleeting light that promised to lead me back to moments long gone. All the while, she watched, hoping for some sign, some reassurance that I had lost myself completely in those memories—though she couldn’t quite understand which memories they were.
This was how our endeavors often began.
She took the chisel I kept hidden beneath the old wooden box—the one I used for prying open the antique furniture. Stealthily, she crept through the half-closed door, clutching her treasures close to her chest. A mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes as she flashed me one last wicked smile, then darted off.
I was still lost in thought when I heard the soft padding of paws near my study. The door opened, and there she was, leaning and stretching toward the ledge, her small hands reaching for something out of sight. I stayed still, watching her, allowing her the space to succeed in her mission.
Her treasures spilled across the floor beneath the footrest where she stood, and with the chisel still in her right hand, she managed to tug something free from the crack in the door. She was just about to seize it when, in a split second, her grip slipped. The object fell, landing beneath her footrest—along with herself.
The sudden fall shocked her. Panicked, she glanced around, her eyes finally locking onto mine. I could see the shame of defeat creeping into her expression. Without thinking, I flashed a vivid smile, one that spoke volumes in a moment where words weren’t needed.
The sight of that smile broke her; her ego, unable to bear the lightness of the moment, crumbled. She burst into tears.
I walked over, pulling her into my arms. We stayed there for a moment, simply gazing at each other. I smiled again. This time, she studied me for a while, then returned a weak smile of her own. In a quiet act of apology, she kissed my cheek, before slipping out of my embrace to continue her playful expedition.
I watched her for a moment longer, my eyes caressing her tiny hands as she began to gather the scattered treasures. Quietly, she returned to her coach, and I leaned back, hoping to reconnect with the strides of time I had lost. That fleeting smile from my little angel lingered in my heart as I drifted back into my own world!
