Jelly was just 5 months old, and though she was growing up fast, there were still moments when she felt utterly helpless. This was one of those moments. Her tiny body was trembling, and her soft, round face was streaked with tears. She cried so hard that her little body shook with every sob.
It all started when her mom left her in the kitchen. Jelly, who was never too fond of being left alone, watched with wide, panicked eyes as her mom walked out to gather some things in another part of the house. Her mom, always busy but gentle, had to leave for just a moment. But to Jelly, even that brief moment felt like an eternity. She reached out her tiny hands, as if trying to grasp her mom’s attention, but it was too late—her mom was already out of sight.
The second her mom disappeared from view, Jelly’s heart sank. At first, she whimpered softly, hoping her mom would hear her and come back right away. But the more time passed, the more anxious she became. Her small whimpers turned into loud cries. She felt abandoned and overwhelmed by a sense of loneliness she couldn’t understand. The kitchen, once warm and comforting with the sounds of her mom cooking nearby, now felt cold and unfamiliar.
Jelly’s cries soon became louder, more intense. Her whole body began to shake with the force of her sobs. She sat down on the cold kitchen floor, her tiny hands balled up into fists as her chest heaved with each breath. It was as if every fiber of her little being was consumed by the sadness she felt at being left alone. Her cries echoed through the house, bouncing off the walls of the quiet kitchen.
Seizure-like tremors coursed through her body as she continued to cry without stopping. Her back arched slightly as she let out long wails, and her arms trembled uncontrollably. It wasn’t just the fear of being left behind—it was the fear of losing the one person she trusted more than anything. She was too young to understand that her mom would always come back. All she knew was that her mom wasn’t there, and that thought was unbearable for her.
The minutes stretched on, and still, Jelly didn’t stop crying. She hiccupped between sobs, her breaths coming in quick, shallow gasps. Her face, once bright and curious, was now red and scrunched up in distress. Tears rolled down her cheeks in a never-ending stream as she called out for her mom with all the strength she could muster.
Meanwhile, Jelly’s mom was in the next room, her heart heavy as she heard her little one crying so desperately. She knew she needed to finish what she was doing quickly, but it pained her to hear Jelly in such distress. Every second felt like too long, but she knew she would comfort her baby soon.
Back in the kitchen, Jelly’s cries were reaching their peak. She had been crying for so long that her tiny body was exhausted. Her limbs felt heavy, and her chest ached from the non-stop sobbing. She wanted her mom more than anything in the world. She looked around the kitchen, her tear-filled eyes searching for any sign of her mom’s return. But when she saw no one, she let out another pitiful wail, shaking even more as the tears kept coming.
Just when it seemed like Jelly’s sadness would never end, the familiar sound of footsteps approached. Jelly’s ears perked up, and for a brief moment, her cries paused. Could it be? Her heart leapt with hope.
Then, her mom appeared in the doorway. Instantly, Jelly’s trembling little body jolted with relief, but she couldn’t stop crying yet. She was still overwhelmed by all the emotions she had been feeling. Her mom rushed over, scooping Jelly up into her arms, hugging her close. Jelly, though still shaking, began to calm down as she felt the warmth of her mom’s embrace.
Her sobs became softer, and her shaking subsided as her mom gently stroked her back, whispering soothing words. Jelly buried her face into her mom’s chest, clinging tightly, not wanting to be left alone again.
The storm had passed, but it would be a while before Jelly fully settled down. Yet in her mom’s arms, she knew she was safe. And that was all she needed.
