Shala’s eyes followed the bottle nipple the moment daddy lifted it into the air. Her whole body leaned forward, tiny hands reaching with hope already shining on her face. She thought milk was coming. Comfort was coming. But instead, daddy teased her gently, moving the nipple just out of reach.
At first, Shala made a small sound of confusion. She tilted her head, blinking as if she didn’t understand the game. Her mouth opened, ready, trusting. When the nipple pulled away again, her face changed instantly. Her lips trembled. Her eyes filled with tears that rose too fast for her to stop.
Then her heart broke.
Shala cried loudly, a raw, broken sound that came from deep inside her tiny chest. She slapped the table in frustration, then reached again, desperation replacing patience. To her, the nipple wasn’t a toy. It was warmth, safety, love. Teasing felt like betrayal.
Her cries cracked and echoed through the room. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she leaned forward, body shaking. She wasn’t just hungry—she felt fooled. Confused. Hurt. Why show her comfort and then take it away?
Daddy immediately realized the mistake. He stopped teasing and moved closer, but Shala had already fallen apart. She turned her face away, still crying, as if her feelings had been wounded too deeply to stop right away. Her small hands clenched, her chest heaving with sobs.
When daddy finally placed the nipple gently to her lips, Shala cried once more before latching on. She drank fast, angrily at first, as if scolding the bottle for leaving her. Slowly, the tension melted. Her sobs softened into small sounds. Her shoulders relaxed.
Daddy held her close, whispering softly, apologizing in actions instead of words. Shala drank until her body calmed, then rested against him, exhausted.
The teasing was over, but the lesson stayed. For a tiny heart like Shala’s, love must feel safe every time. Even small games can feel big. And sometimes, comfort must come without delay, because trust is still learning how to grow.
