"Do you not like it?"
Only when I heard the small, anxious voice did I come back to my senses. The child was gazing up at me with a worried expression, as though fearing rejection.
"I love it."
I shook my head gently.
"It's so beautiful."
"Really?"
The child's face broke into a radiant smile the moment I accepted the thread anklet. I reached out and stroked her hair affectionately, charmed by her expression of pure, sighing happiness.
Startled by the unexpected warmth, the child looked up at the angel-like young lady before her. Then, brimming with pride that her gift had been so well received, she began to chatter eagerly.
"I'm so glad you said it's pretty! Mama will be so happy. She always says how grateful she is to you."
"Would you tell her that I'm grateful as well?"
The child nodded, her cheeks flushing pink.
"My mama can make them too!"
Another child piped up enviously.
"I want to give you one as a gift someday!"
I laughed softly.
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