A Brave New Smile

Leo blinked, his eyes still a little fuzzy from waking up. The room felt soft and quiet, not at all like the clanking, whizzing, and giggling monster he’d imagined the hospital to be. He remembered the big day, the car ride that felt longer than a snail race, and clutching the drawing of Whiskers so tightly his knuckles were white. But now, he was home. And there, curled up on the end of his bed, was a warm, fluffy weight.

A rumble started, a tiny motorboat purring to life. Whiskers. Leo turned his head slowly, wincing just a tiny bit. His lip felt… different. Bandaged and strange. He reached up a tentative finger, but his mom gently stopped him.

“Easy there, champ,” she whispered, her voice as soft as Whiskers’s fur. “Let’s let it heal.”