"You're going to make her teeth go bad with all that sugar…"
"She doesn't get to have it every day, so I guess it's fine," Virema interjected with a light smile, ruffling Seraphine's soft curls before stepping away to tend to the waiting customers.
Valessia watched her go, then turned her gaze to the little girl who sat patiently at the table, her fingers twitching near the pastries like she needed permission to touch them.
"You can eat," Valessia muttered softly.
Seraphine looked up for a moment, then reached out with a shy smile and picked her two favorite cookies. As she took the first bite, her small face lit up in a way that tugged something loose in Valessia's chest.
Her own appetite had disappeared days ago, but watching Seraphine eat so heartily, so alive was enough. She didn't touch the untouched bread or the glass of juice in front of her.
