Newborn Bubu lay quietly inside a small woven basket near the washing area, wrapped in a thin cloth to keep him warm. His mom was only a few steps away, busy preparing warm water to bathe him. The morning was calm, and Bubu’s tiny chest rose and fell in slow, gentle breaths as he slept peacefully, unaware of the danger so close to him.
Suddenly, a small shift happened. The basket tilted just slightly on the uneven ground. No one noticed in time. In a silent moment, Bubu’s fragile body rolled over the edge and slipped out. His tiny form dropped straight into the soft, wet mud below.
A weak cry burst from his mouth.
The sound cut sharply through the quiet morning. Mom spun around in horror and rushed toward the cry. Her heart raced as she saw Bubu lying in the mud, his body smeared with dirt, his tiny arms trembling as he struggled to breathe through fear and shock.
She scooped him up instantly, pressing him tightly to her chest. Her hands shook as she brushed mud from his face, his ears, his tiny lips. Bubu cried harder now, his voice broken and scared, his whole body shivering from the sudden cold and fright.
Mom held him under warm water right away, washing away the mud with desperate care. She whispered softly, her voice full of fear and love, as she cleaned every inch of his fragile body. Bubu slowly began to calm as the warmth returned. His cries softened into weak whimpers, and his tight little fists slowly relaxed.
After he was clean, mom wrapped him in a dry cloth and held him close, refusing to put him down again. Bubu pressed his face into her, still trembling, but safe.
One small fall nearly changed everything.
But love reached him in time.
