The Gift of Time

Her mum laughed, a sound Lila hadn’t heard in a while. “Well, that sounds wonderful,” she said, sitting down to enjoy her breakfast.

After breakfast, Lila and her mum baked cookies together. They laughed as flour dusted their noses and the sweet smell of chocolate chips filled the kitchen. Then, they painted pictures, each one sillier than the last. Lila’s mum painted a rainbow with a pot of gold at the end, and Lila painted a portrait of their family, complete with their dog, Max.

In the afternoon, they bundled up in warm coats and went for a walk in the park. The air was crisp, and the trees were bare, but the sun shone brightly, casting a golden glow over everything. They talked about everything—school, dreams, and even silly stories from when Lila was a baby.

When they returned home, Lila’s mum pulled out an old photo album. They sat by the fireplace, flipping through pages of memories. There were pictures of Lila’s first steps, family vacations, and holidays spent with loved ones. Lila’s mum pointed to a photo of her and Lila’s dad dancing at their wedding. “That was one of the happiest days of my life,” she said, her voice soft.

As the day came to an end, Lila’s mum hugged her tightly. “This was the best gift I’ve ever received,” she said, her eyes glistening with tears. “Thank you, Lila.”

Lila smiled, feeling a warmth in her heart. She had learned that sometimes, the most meaningful gifts aren’t things—they’re moments spent together.

Moral: The best gifts are often the ones that can’t be wrapped—like time, love, and attention.

AmorKado