Baby LiLi had always been a delicate little one, the kind of newborn monkey whose breaths seemed soft enough to blow away in the wind. For days, everyone watched her with worry — her small frame, her fragile skin, her quiet whimpers. But now, something new was happening, something both alarming and hopeful at the same time. Her tiny toes had begun to dry at the tips, showing flakes of rough, peeling skin. It looked uncomfortable, even sad, but it was also a sign that her weak body was beginning to strengthen and renew itself.
Mommy noticed it first when she gently touched LiLi’s foot, checking her the way she did each morning. “Oh, LiLi…” she murmured softly, seeing the dry patches. For a moment, her heart twisted — she feared it might be hurting her little girl. But LiLi wasn’t crying. She wasn’t trembling. Instead, she lifted her head with surprising energy, her eyes brighter than they’d been all week.
It was the first time Mommy truly felt hope warming her chest.
LiLi tried to wiggle her toes, the dry flakes shifting slightly. She didn’t like the feeling, but she wasn’t overwhelmed by it. Instead, she let out a soft chirp — a tiny sound, but one filled with life. That sound alone was enough to make Mommy’s eyes shine with relief.
Throughout the morning, LiLi moved more than usual. She tried to crawl a little, tried to grip Mommy’s finger, even tried to sit up for a moment before collapsing gently into her soft blanket. Every small action felt like a victory, a whisper from her little body saying, I’m fighting… I’m getting better.
Mommy held her close, gently rubbing a warm cloth over her tiny feet, softening the dry skin with love. And LiLi, safe in her arms, closed her eyes — not in weakness, but in healing.
