Amorevolous (adjective): loving

“It’ll only be a few days,” they said.

“...As soon as we find him a permanent home,” they said.

The woman nodded almost immediately, hurrying to her home right after work to renovate her living room into a comfortable living space. From the closest, she unveiled mountains worth of fluffy blankets and plush pillows, which she’d piled all across the sofa before setting down several bowls of fruits and candies onto a table.

For an orphaned boy, it was the least she could do for him on Christmas eve.

So… what on earth was this?

In a tangled mess on the floor were her radiant Christmas lights, and tied up in the center of the mess was the young boy that she’d temporarily taken in.

They were supposed to be a celebratory welcome for the woman’s holiday dinner, a gathering of all her relatives near and far. Out of all the items in the living room, the lights were ironically the only thing she didn’t prepare for the boy.

Unfortunately, he was hopelessly tangled in the garlands of stars. His small body cowered before her, quivering. Hands clutched close to his chest and head buried between his elbows, it was evident that he awaited an imminent slap to the head.

A long sigh left her chest.

Then, she walked over to the little figure and gave him a gentle pat on the head.