Lil plushie loves hugs!
"Hee hee..." A soft giggle escaped. Fingers gently traced the lines of the smaller, boxy figure nestled in my arms. "So cute..."
The school hallway buzzed with the low hum of chatter and the squeak of sneakers on polished floors. But in Goob's world, none of it existed. His focus narrowed, a soft, hazy glow illuminating the miniature version of himself he held close. It was a small, handcrafted figurine, a perfect replica of him, down to the tiny party hat perched atop its square head. The little Goob doll seemed to radiate a warmth that spread through him, a comforting weight against the anxieties that sometimes prickled beneath his skin.
The bell rings, a shrill, insistent chime that cuts through the quiet moment.