Gemotions

"Look, Uncle Ben!" Nine-year-old Chloe beamed, thrusting a drawing into Ben's hands. It depicted a whimsical tree, its branches adorned with brightly colored leaves and small, twinkling lights. A tiny, luminous figure with butterfly wings stood near the base. "It's Sparkle!"

Ben’s breath hitched. He knew that figure. That shimmering, light-filled creature. It was the same one he had drawn as a boy, a beacon in the darkness of his fears. The memory hit him hard, bringing back the ache of loss and the comfort of the unseen.

He felt a tightness in his chest as he studied the drawing. "Sparkle is very special," he said, his voice husky. "You're lucky to have her." He blinked back the sudden stinging in his eyes, feeling the well of his old insecurities wash over him again. He wanted to shield Chloe from everything, protect her from the world, and make sure she never lost her Sparkle.