Gemotions

A sharp rap on the door startled Leo from his book. He opened it to find Maya, his usually stoic neighbor, clutching a small, wilting sunflower. Her brow was furrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"My son, Liam, lost his favorite toy. He’s heartbroken," she mumbled, voice barely above a whisper. "He loves sunflowers, and I was trying to grow one, but it's not… well, you can see."

Leo felt a tightening in his throat. Liam was only five, and he remembered how devastated he’d been when he lost his own childhood trinkets. He glanced at his own thriving sunflowers, their heads heavy with seeds.

“Come on in,” he said, stepping aside. “I have some extra seeds. And… maybe some seedlings that can be transplanted?” He led her to his sun-drenched backyard, a gentle smile gracing his features.

Maya’s shoulders slumped in relief. He thought it must be the first time he'd ever seen her with them like that, relaxed. "You'd really do that?" she asked, her voice filled with gratitude.

“Of course,” Leo responded. "Tell you what, I'll even help you plant them. We'll make it a family affair.”