The joy of the morning had been palpable. Isobel, just two years old, had been laughing as she tore through wrapping paper, her small hands clutching brightly colored toys. The living room had been alive with the warm chaos of Christmas Day—shiny decorations glinting in the soft light, the smell of baked treats lingering in the air, the faint hum of holiday music. Her parents had watched her with unguarded smiles, their hearts full of the quiet, contented pride that comes from watching a child discover the world. Every giggle, every squeal of delight seemed to echo the promise of...
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