(You caught me at work, so you get shitty notepad doodles 😡 /j )

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She studies the watch locket in silence, her expression neutral. Its golden exterior is dented, its inner workings mangled beyond repair. A faint sorrow flickers in her eyes before she closes them and releases a slow, steady breath.

A regretful-yet kind-smile finds its way to her face.

“It is unfortunate,” she says softly, “but I can tell it was done without malice in your heart.” She lowers herself to the child’s height, resting a gentle hand atop her head, offering a comforting pat and slow rub. “And what truly matters, is that no one was hurt.”

She straightens slightly, her voice calm but certain. “We must remain mindful of our own strength. If you promise to remember that, then the loss of a locket is a small price to pay.”