Valeria sat at her craft table, surrounded by jars of rainbow gomitas and her trusted loom hook.
She picked up the hook and began threading a bright orange gomita, her fingers moving quickly.
Red melted. Blue flopped. Green collapsed into a sticky puddle. She sighed.
Valeria looked across the room. Her friend sat on the window seat, hugging her knees and staring at the floor. She hadn't smiled in weeks.
The craft room felt too quiet. Valeria wanted to fix that.
Valeria reached for orange and yellow gomitas. She started again, looping carefully this time.
She shaped a little beak. Tiny feet. Wings that stayed on.
The gummy bird perched perfectly on her fingertip. Valeria smiled.
She walked over and held out the bird. 'Look what I made,' she said.
Her friend looked at the bird, then at Valeria. A small smile appeared — the first one in weeks.
The friend took the bird and held it close. 'Thank you,' she whispered.
The rainbow craft room felt warm and full. Just like it should.