Peace

Sarah kept Smith in **her warm and firm embrace**, the **woolen blanket** wrapped around both of them, **Sarah’s calm breath** settling on Smith’s wet hair.

**Smith’s crying** had now turned into **deep, trembling breaths**, **her hot bottom** gradually calming under **Sarah’s soft thigh**.

Julie, Lucy, Angela fell into **a moment of silence**;

**Julie’s eyes** narrowed, **her playful smile** fading a little.

**Lucy** raised an eyebrow, lowering **her camera hand**.

**Angela** bit her lip, **her mischievous laugh** turning into **a slight frown**.

Sarah **lifted her head**, fixing **her decisive yet kind gaze** on her friends:

“I think **you’ve played enough**.

Now **Smith is with me**.”

**Sarah’s voice**, **soft but firm**, like **a warm Montana wind suddenly changing direction**;

**not angry**, **not threatening**, just a **clear boundary**.

Julie took a step forward, **her white sneaker** making **a faint creak** on the wood:

“Sarah, we were just…”

Sarah **gently raised her hand**, **her fingers** still in Smith’s hair, **continuous stroking**:

“I know.

But **that’s enough now**.

Smith is **tired**, **has cried**, **gotten hot**.

Now she’s in **Auntie Sarah’s hug**.”

Lucy kept **her heavy smile** but **turned off her camera**.

Angela **shrugged**, let out **a short sigh**, **the scent of her cinnamon cake** still lingering in the air.

Sarah **squeezed Smith tighter**, resting **her chin** on her head:

“Easy, my boy…

No one will bother you anymore.”

**The warmth of Sarah’s embrace**, **the softness of her t-shirt**, **the scent of fresh jasmine**, **the calm and steady heartbeat**;

Smith **closed her eyes**, **took a deep breath**,

and **finally**,

**in the safest place in the world**,

**found peace**.