âThank you, Maâam!â With the prized balloon in hand, Melonâs grin illuminated his face.
He could hardly wait to return to Ariana and share it with her.
On his way, a flower nursery caught his attention.
There, nestled in a corner, was a young girl muttering in a low voice.
She was counting, and her counting seemed askew, for Melon observed a leap from twenty straight to fifty as he drew near.
A bemused smile graced his lips, and he inquired, âEngrossed in counting, are you?â
Unperturbed by his presence, the girlâs gaze remained fixed downward.
Craning his neck, Melon saw the girl his age in a pink bubble skirt on the grass.
The sun was beating down fiercely, flushing her delicate face, which glistened with sweat.
How long she had occupied this spot remained an enigma to him.
âWhy are you squatting here?â Melon asked, his curiosity piqued.
Still, the girl offered no response.
Undeterred, Melon extended the balloon toward her.
âShould you deign to answer my question, this balloon shall be yours.
What say you?â
At last, a reaction stirred in her.
She raised her gaze, the balloon capturing her attention.
Yearning lingered in her eyes, yet she remained in a contemplative reverie without uttering a word.
In the presence of this doll-like girl, Melon found her actions not peculiar but rather an intricate play of silence and introspection.
âs
An unexplainable kinship seemed to tether them, and he couldnât just place it.
Surveying the surroundings and finding no adult figure in proximity, Melon ventured, âHave you lost your way?â
The girl remained silent.
Melon pressed on, âYour silence shall be interpreted as consent.
â
Her unbroken yet still gaze bore into him, eyes blinking but devoid of words.
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âGreat! What about being my sister?â Melonâs joy was evident as he clapped his little hands.
âMy mom shall delight in this new addition to the family!â
He then knelt, secured the balloon to her wrist, and stood up.
The fact that she didnât protest made him happier.
âNow that you donât object, Iâll consider that a promise.
So, consider this my gift to you.
â
Not a word was spoken, yet the girl did not refuse the balloon either.
And so, a sense of impending siblinghood filled Melonâs heart, contentment at the thought of Arianaâs happiness.
A womanâs voice came as he reached out to take her hand in his.
âAdele.
â
Adele? Was that her name?
Melon turned his head, studying the little girl and etching her name into his memory.
Then, his attention shifted back to the woman drawing near.