Lydia, newly married to Paolo, found herself in the kitchen making cupcakes when Elisa, Paolo's five-year-old daughter, accidentally spilled food coloring all over the floor.
"Aww, that's okay," Lydia reassured her, but Elisa immediately ran away, hiding under the dining room table and curling into a ball.
Calmly, Lydia approached and spoke softly, "Hey, honey, I know that it's an accident."
"I...I'll stay here until you forgive me," Elisa said, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Lydia, aware of Elisa's difficult past with an abusive and neglectful biological mother who had left, gently picked her up, embracing her and offering words of comfort. She assured Elisa that she was perfect and could do no wrong in her eyes.
Slowly, Elisa looked up, questioning if Lydia meant what she said.
"With everything in me. I promise," Lydia affirmed.
Elisa smiled, wiping away her tears, and whispered, "Can we hug a little longer?" The tender moment reflected Lydia's commitment to providing the love and understanding Elisa had been deprived of for so long.
