When It’s Real (alt)

Babi

Aww, look at you, Nini,” I gushed. “You look so cute with your ponytail.” I patted her puff ball sitting at the crown of her head, as we both stood in front of the

vanity mirror in my bathroom.

Nini was an eight-year-old, chocolate beauty. For years, I’d been babysitting her, and I made it my mission to speak life into her, and any other child around me.

Hearing my words of affirmation, Nini smiled, revealing the silver caps on a few of her teeth.

She was a thin little something with thick hair that her mama often complained about combing.

Meanwhile, everybody knew that I wished that I had a little girl of my own, and had no problems with dealing with Nini’s coarse hair.

“Thank you,” Nini grinned. “But I wish that my hair was like yours, Babi.”

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