Atong sat quietly in the warm tub as water touched his chest and steam softened the morning air around him.
Suddenly his foot slipped and his tiny body dipped forward faster than anyone expected to see in the slippery tub.
Water rushed over his mouth and nose for a terrifying instant that felt endless to him in that sudden moment.
His eyes flew open wide with panic as bubbles burst from his lips in shock beneath the warm bath water.
Caregiver hands reacted instantly lifting him before fear could fully steal his breath and strength from his trembling little chest.
Atong coughed violently as water poured from his mouth in sputtering desperate bursts of life that shook his tiny frame.
His body trembled in frightened spasms while tears mixed with tub water running down his cheeks in thin shining lines.
The room went silent except for his choking cries and the pounding of worried human hearts that echoed in fear.
Gentle pats on his back helped the trapped water loosen as air finally returned freely into his trembling little lungs.
Atong clung tightly to warm arms shaking as shock drained slowly from his tiny muscles and weak trembling bones inside.
His cries softened from choking terror into broken sobs still heavy with lingering fright that shook his chest in waves.
The warm towel wrapped around him felt like a shield against the memory of sinking fear that still haunted him.
Atong’s breaths steadied slowly as his heartbeat calmed against the caregiver’s familiar chest where safety always returned after every storm.
Tiny fingers tightened in relief as danger faded back into memory instead of present terror that had nearly taken him.
The bath ended in trembling silence but life continued with deeper care in every touch after the terrifying lesson learned.
