Leo lay there, small and fragile, curled in on himself like a wounded animal. His sobs were quieter now, but Clara could still hear the tremors in his breathing. She approached slowly, not wanting to startle him, and gently placed a hand on his back.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” she whispered. “I’m here.”
Leo turned toward her, his eyes wide and pleading. “Mrs. Clara, please… it hurts.”
She nodded, reassuring him with a soft smile. “Let’s see what’s hurting you, okay?”
With careful hands, she lifted Leo’s head slightly and pulled the pillow out from under him. It was heavier than it should have been, and as she unzipped the silk cover, she discovered why.
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