Bridging the gap
They slowly began to warm up to me again. Our initial meetings were brief but meaningful. Little by little, the children approached me with stories about school and friends, their initial hesitancy lessening.
Each small interaction felt like a precious victory. “Tell me more about your favorite games,” I encouraged them, eager to rebuild our bond.
Their laughter, once a distant memory, started to return, filling my heart with cautious optimism.