The morning sun had barely risen when Lyly woke up, rubbing her sleepy eyes. She stretched her tiny arms and peeked out from her cozy blanket, expecting to find her mother nearby like always. But today, Mother was already dressed, her work bag hanging over her shoulder.
Lyly’s heart dropped.
She knew what this meant—Mother had to go to work.
Mother knelt down and gently stroked Lyly’s head. “Sweetheart, Mommy will be back soon. Be a good girl while I’m away, okay?”
Lyly clung tightly to her mother’s clothes, refusing to let go. Her soft little whimpers filled the room. She didn’t like goodbyes— especially not morning ones. To her, every minute without Mother felt like forever.
Mother tried to cheer her up. “I’ll bring you a banana treat later,” she said with a warm smile. But the promise of bananas was no match for the fear of being apart.
Lyly’s eyes filled with tears. She hugged Mother even tighter, her tiny fingers trembling. She wanted to go too, to stay by her side and not miss a single moment together.
With a tender sigh, Mother held Lyly close and kissed her forehead. “You are my brave girl,” she whispered. “You’ll play, be safe, and when I return, we will cuddle all evening.”
The door opened, and Mother slowly stepped outside.
Lyly rushed to the doorway, pressing her hands against the frame. She watched her mother walk away, her figure growing smaller with each step. Lyly’s chest ached with longing, and a little tear rolled down her cheek.
Still, she waved—her tiny hand shaking but full of love.
Mother turned back one last time, waving gently. Their eyes met, and Lyly felt warmth fill her heart. They were apart, but not truly separated. Their love stretched between them like an invisible string.
When the door finally closed, Lyly sat quietly, clutching her favorite plush toy. She whispered to herself, “I’ll be strong… for Mommy.”
Though the goodbye was painful, Lyly knew something beautiful—love always brings them back together. 🌟🐒💞
