Selena stayed close to the caregiver’s legs, tiny fingers gripping fabric as the open yard stretched before her.
Every sound made her flinch.
Every movement felt like danger waiting to happen.
Her eyes followed Ronaldo with nervous wonder as he bounced forward without fear.
Ronaldo laughed in playful chirps, leaping onto the ground with fearless joy.
Dust rose beneath his feet as he rolled, tumbled, and explored the world like it belonged to him.
Selena wanted to move but fear held her still like invisible chains around her legs.
Ronaldo ran back toward her, inviting her with bright eyes and bouncing steps.
She took one step, then froze, heart racing too fast for such a small body.
Ronaldo didn’t notice danger at all.
He climbed, slipped, laughed, and climbed again with unstoppable courage.
Selena watched every fall with wide worried eyes, gasping softly each time he stumbled.
To her, the ground looked hard, the air looked risky, and the world felt too big.
The caregiver knelt beside her, offering gentle encouragement with soft voice and steady hands.
Selena trembled but leaned forward, testing trust with a single careful step.
Ronaldo cheered in squeaky excitement, unaware that his bravery inspired more than he knew.
Selena took another step, then another, still shaking but moving at last.
Fear whispered loudly inside her chest, yet hope whispered louder from watching Ronaldo’s joy.
He ran circles around her, showing that the world could be fun, not only frightening.
Selena reached the open ground slowly, heart pounding, courage growing breath by breath.
Two tiny lives met in the middle of fear and freedom.
One taught bravery without words.
The other learned that safety could walk beside fear.
Under the same sky, different hearts found their own way to play.
