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On a sunlit creek bank, golden afternoon light reflects off the water as Leo stands at the edge, eyes wide, while Emily kneels beside him, smiling reassuringly and meeting his gaze.
Golden light warms the creek and a tiny leaf-island. Leo stands on the bank, in closed-toe shoes, hesitating. Emily kneels, meeting his eyes. 'I'm right here,' she says. 'It looks far,' whispers Leo.
Beside the flowing creek in warm late-day light, Emily gently places a smooth pebble into Leo’s outstretched right palm; Leo curls his fingers around it, looking determined yet nervous.
Emily sets a smooth pebble into Leo’s right palm. 'A steady stone for courage,' she says. Leo curls five fingers around it. He keeps it in his right hand. 'I can try,' he says.
On the creek’s rocky edge under soft afternoon glow, Leo crouches and taps four stepping stones with a forefinger while murmuring their names; Emily stands nearby, nodding encouragingly.
Leo breathes slowly. 'Bank, helper, wide, island,' he maps, tapping each stone with a finger. Emily nods. 'Stone by stone,' she says. Pebble snug in his right hand, Leo studies the path.
Sunlight flickers on the creek as Leo extends a foot onto the first stepping stone, ripples spreading; he leans back uncertain, while Emily, standing on the bank, speaks calmly with a steady hand raised.
Leo steps to the first stone; it wobbles, and ripples bloom. He steps back, unsure. 'Too shaky,' he mutters. Emily steadies her voice. 'Let's notice and adjust. What do you feel?'
Kneeling in the shallow creek, Emily and Leo push a wider stone into place between rippling currents under bright daylight; Leo tests it with a cautious toe, pebble clutched in his right hand.
Together they swap in a heavier, wider stone, pressing it flat. Leo tests with a careful toe. 'Better,' he says. Pebble rests in his right hand. 'Try again,' Emily smiles.
Midstream in late afternoon sun, Leo balances on the second stepping stone with arms stretched like airplane wings, shoes dry and a small smile forming; the pebble gleams in his open right hand while Emily watches from the bank.
Arms out, Leo steps to the second stone. His shoes stay dry. A small smile appears. The pebble shows in his right hand. 'I did one more,' he whispers.
Under dappling sunlight, Emily bends over the water and slots a small flat helper stone into a gap between larger rocks; Leo, pebble gripped in right fist, studies the new bridge with focused eyes.
A wide gap waits ahead. Emily slips a small helper stone between the others. 'Bridges can be tiny,' she says. Leo nods, pebble steady in his right hand. 'Helper first, then wide,' he says.
A sudden breeze whirls autumn leaves across the creek, afternoon light dancing; Leo stands balanced on a stone, eyes narrowed, squeezing the pebble in his right hand, while Emily smiles reassuringly from the bank.
A gust scatters leaves across the water. Leo pauses and squeezes the pebble in his right hand. 'In...out,' he breathes. Emily smiles. 'Find your path again.' He focuses on the stones.
Golden evening light skims the water as Leo strides from the helper stone to the wide rock, arms spread confidently; a tiny wobble passes beneath his shoes, and Emily cheers from the grassy shore.
Leo steps to the helper, then the wide stone, arms open like an airplane. A wobble passes. 'Nice reset!' Emily calls. 'Retry worked!' Leo grins, pebble firm in his right hand.
Near the creek’s center at dusk, Leo stands on a broad stone, rolling the pebble across his right-hand fingers and bending knees lightly; Emily, beside the water, gestures encouragingly toward the final gap.
One stone remains. Leo rolls the pebble along his right-hand fingers and breathes calmly. 'Soft knees, small spring,' Emily coaches. He bends, balanced. The last gap feels friendly now.
Under rosy sunset light, Leo lands safely on the tiny leaf-covered island soil, lifting the pebble triumphantly in his right hand; on the nearby stone, Emily steps forward beaming with pride.
Leo makes a soft leap onto the island soil. Relief bursts into joy. Emily steps near, proud. 'You made it!' she says. 'Stone by stone,' Leo answers, holding his pebble high in his right hand.
In the island’s sunlit clearing, Leo kneels and plants a twig topped with a fluttering leaf flag into the soft soil, smiling broadly; Emily stands behind him, hands clasped, while the golden creek glows around them.
At the center, Leo plants a twig with a leaf-flag. A gentle breeze flutters it. 'Our tiny island,' he says. Emily smiles. 'And a brave path.' The creek glows in warm light.
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