Chamroeun had just been given a gentle bath, his tiny fur damp and clinging to his body. The caretakers placed him carefully on the wooden table, wrapping a towel loosely around his shoulders. But the cool breeze of the evening touched his skin, and at once, his little body began to tremble. He stood there, wobbling on weak legs, his tiny chest rising and falling quickly as the air made him shiver.
His big eyes glanced around, full of both confusion and hope. His mouth opened with small cries, not loud but full of longing. Chamroeun wasn’t afraid of the table, nor of the water he had just braved. What unsettled him most was the absence of the warm arms he trusted most—his daddy’s.
He shifted from side to side, hugging himself with his little arms, as if trying to hold in some warmth. Each time the towel slipped, he whimpered softly, then looked toward the door, expecting it to open at any moment. His tail twitched, his ears perked, and his whole tiny body seemed to say: “Daddy, please hurry. I’m waiting.”
And then it happened—the familiar footsteps approached. Chamroeun’s ears caught the sound before his eyes did. The moment he spotted his daddy, his face lit up with joy. His shivers turned to excited wiggles, his little hands stretched out as if to say, “I knew you’d come!”
Scooped up instantly, he was pressed against a warm chest, wrapped tighter in the towel, and rubbed gently until the trembling eased. Chamroeun sighed, his eyes half-closing in comfort. He no longer felt the cool air of the evening. All he felt was the warmth of safety, the love of his daddy, and the quiet joy of being held again. 💕
