Laughter's Bloom

The locket pulsed against V’s chest, a tiny, warm heartbeat. The gnome’s riddle, a tangled mess of thorny words, still echoed in the quiet air. *“I have no voice, but I can sing. I have no legs, but I can fly. I have no wings, but I can soar. What am I?”* V frowned, their brow furrowed in concentration. The garden, usually so vibrant, seemed to hold its breath, waiting.

*“Think of what makes you happy, little one,”* the locket whispered, its voice like the rustle of silk. *“Think of the feeling that makes your tummy tickle and your cheeks puff out.”*

V closed their eyes, trying to recall that feeling. It was a rare visitor, that tickle. Mostly, V felt the quiet hum of loneliness, a low, constant melody that had followed them for as long as they could remember. But the locket… the locket brought a different kind of hum, a bright, bubbly one that felt like sunshine after a long rain.