Clara sits cross-legged on her pink bedspread, fidgeting with her favorite stuffed bunny. Today is the day she will get her hair braided, but her stomach is full of fluttering butterflies. She glances at the wide-toothed comb resting on the dresser and bites her lip, feeling both curious and afraid.
Marianna[/@ch_2], Clara’s mother, enters the room. She wears a vibrant blue headwrap and a warm smile, carrying a basket filled with beads, elastics, and sweet-smelling hair oil.]
Marianna kneels beside her daughter, reaching out to gently stroke Clara’s cheek. "I know you’re nervous, my love. Braiding is a special tradition, and I’ll be gentle. Will you trust me today?" Clara nods shyly, her shoulders relaxing as Marianna wraps her arms around her in a comforting hug.
Marianna[/@ch_2] settles behind Clara, parting her soft coils with patience. The smell of coconut and shea butter lingers in the air, and colorful beads clink softly in the basket.]
Marianna starts to braid slowly, humming a gentle song as her fingers work. "Every braid is a story, Clara. They’re a crown you wear, telling the world how special you are." Clara squeezes her bunny, listening to her mother’s voice, feeling her fears begin to fade with each careful twist and turn.
Clara[/@ch_1] watches herself in the mirror, noticing how beautiful and proud she looks.]
"Mama, it doesn’t hurt as much as I thought. It’s… kind of nice," she whispers, a smile tugging at her lips. "That’s my brave girl," Marianna replies, slipping a shiny purple bead onto the end of a braid. Clara sits up straighter, feeling a warmth blooming in her chest.
Clara[/@ch_1] blinks in amazement as she feels a tingling sensation in her fingertips.]
"Mama, look! My braids are glowing!" she gasps, raising her hands. With a giggle, tiny sparks of color swirl around her, making her bunny float gently above the bed. Marianna laughs in delight, her eyes shining. "See, Clara? You’ve always had magic inside. Your braids just helped you find it!"
Clara[/@ch_1] dances in front of the mirror, her new braids swinging and beads clicking like tiny bells. The stuffed animals seem to clap along, celebrating her newfound confidence.]
"Thank you, Mama. I feel brave and magical," Clara says, rushing into her mother’s arms. "You are both, my darling. And now, the world will see it too," Marianna replies, holding her close as the morning sun fills the room with golden hope.
