Ayaan kneels on cool wet sand. He hums a tune while the ocean breathes in and out.
His palms press flat, smoothing ridges in the sand. A small crab scuttles past his sneakers.
His smile widens when a shiny white shell half-buried in the sand catches the sunlight. 'Wow,' he thinks.
He climbs onto a warm flat rock by the water's edge and holds his treasure shell up to the light.
The wind tugs at his sleeves and hair. The shell slips from his fingers — tumbling toward the sea. 'Oh no!'
He gasps and reaches, but his fingers close only on sand.
The shell floats just beyond the shallow water, glinting under the waves. He stands up and takes one careful step forward.
Then another step. His sneakers press into the damp sand. Behind him, a soft voice calls his name — steady like a lullaby.
He runs back and buries his face against her neck as she sweeps him up into a hug.
She presses a kiss to his hair and whispers close to his ear. He stays tucked there as the ocean hums softly.
He pulls back just enough to look at her face, grinning with his whole face. She opens her hand — the white shell, perfectly safe.
His fingers brush hers as he takes it. He holds it close to his chest like the most precious thing in the world.