Keeping Watch

Bella came back every day. She kept the leaf safe from trampling paws and curious noses.

She told the chrysalis about the clouds, the rain, and the smell of the roses — quiet stories, so the garden felt friendly.

Oliver sometimes joined her. "You are a good friend to small creatures," he said.

One morning the chrysalis looked darker. Bella's heart beat fast. "Is something wrong?"

"Something right," Oliver whispered. "Get ready."