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Late-afternoon light spills through the living-room window as Leslie leans against Robert on the couch, smiling warmly. Elliot kneels on the carpet nearby, stacking bright wooden blocks into a tall tower.
Leslie sat on the couch with her husband Robert. She watched their children play on the carpet. Five-year-old Elliot was building with blocks. Baby Aurora giggled and clapped her tiny hands. Their dogs Mishka and Nimbo lay peacefully on the floor. Robert held Leslie close. "I love our family," Leslie whispered. Robert smiled and kissed her forehead. The room felt warm and safe. Everything was perfect in this moment. The dogs' tails wagged slowly. Aurora reached for Elliot's blocks. "No, Aurora!" Elliot laughed. Leslie's heart filled with happiness. She felt so lucky to have everyone together.
Inside the softly lit living-room, Leslie stands inches from a glowing red poppy sprouting from the wall, hand outstretched and eyes wide. Robert stands beside her, one arm protective around her shoulders, both faces bathed in crimson light.
Leslie noticed something odd. A small red flower was growing from the wall. "Robert, look!" she said, pointing. The flower glowed softly. It was a beautiful poppy. "How is that possible?" Robert asked. The children stopped playing. Even Mishka and Nimbo lifted their heads. The flower grew bigger and brighter. Leslie stood up slowly. She walked toward the wall. The poppy's petals shimmered like magic. "Should I touch it?" Leslie asked. Robert stood beside her. "Be careful," he said. Leslie reached out her hand. Her fingers touched the soft petals. Something amazing was about to happen.
In the living-room bathed in swirling rainbow light, Leslie clutches baby Aurora while floating toward a spinning portal blossoming from the wall. Nearby, Robert stretches one arm toward them, his body and scattered toys pulled toward the vortex’s luminous center.
The poppy flower began spinning like a wheel. It grew larger and larger. Suddenly, it turned into a swirling portal. "What's happening?" Elliot shouted. The portal started pulling them in. Leslie grabbed Aurora quickly. Robert held Elliot's hand tight. Mishka and Nimbo barked as they slid toward the portal. "Everyone hold on!" Robert yelled. The family couldn't resist the pull. The dogs' paws scratched the floor. In seconds, they were all sucked into the portal. Colors swirled around them like a rainbow tunnel. They spun and tumbled through space. Then everything went quiet. They landed softly on something green.
Under bright midday sun, Leslie stands in a rolling field of red poppies, arms lifted in wonder. Elliot runs through the grass beside her, scattering butterflies beneath a vivid blue sky.
Leslie opened her eyes and gasped. They were lying in a field of green grass. Thousands of red poppy flowers covered rolling hills. The sky was the brightest blue she'd ever seen. "Wow!" Elliot shouted, jumping up. Aurora pointed at the flowers and giggled. Robert helped Leslie stand. "Where are we?" he asked. The dogs ran through the poppies, barking happily. The air smelled sweet like honey. Butterflies danced around them. Everything glowed with soft light. "It's beautiful," Leslie whispered. The world felt peaceful and magical. "Look at all the flowers!" Elliot called. Leslie had never seen anything so wonderful.
On a poppy-covered hillside in late afternoon, Robert points toward Tio Willy standing on a distant crest wearing an orange shirt and black fanny pack. Beside him, Leslie gazes teary-eyed, scarlet petals swirling gently in the warm breeze.
"Look over there," Robert said, pointing. A figure stood on a distant hill. Leslie squinted to see better. The person was waving at them. "Should we go closer?" Elliot asked. Leslie felt something strange in her heart. Something familiar. "Let's walk together," she said. The family walked through the poppies. Mishka and Nimbo stayed close. Aurora bounced in Robert's arms. The figure became clearer with each step. It was a man wearing bright clothes. He had a black fanny pack and an orange shirt. Leslie's heart began to beat faster. "It can't be," she whispered. Tears filled her eyes.
Amid sunlit poppies, Leslie rushes into Tio Willy’s open arms, pressing her tear-streaked face against his orange shirt. Elliot clasps Tio Willy’s leg, looking up with wide admiration while petals float around them like confetti.
"Tio Willy!" Leslie cried out. She started running. Her uncle stood smiling with open arms. "Hello, my beautiful niece," he said warmly. Leslie hugged him tight and began to cry. "But how? Why are you here?" she asked. Tio Willy touched her face gently. "I came to see you one more time," he explained. "To see your beautiful family." He looked at Robert, Elliot, and Aurora. "And to tell you I love you so much." Robert shook Tio Willy's hand. Elliot hugged his great-uncle's leg. "I miss you," Leslie sobbed. "I know, mija," Tio Willy said softly. "But I'm always with you."
Under a clear sky, Leslie kneels in the poppy field hugging Gizmo, the red-and-white dog licking her smiling face. Nearby, Nimbo bounds in playful circles, his blue eyes bright amid waving scarlet blossoms.
Suddenly, a dog jumped from behind Tio Willy. It had red and white fur and a pink nose. "Gizmo!" Leslie screamed with joy. The dog ran straight to her. Leslie knelt down and hugged him tight. Nimbo and Mishka barked excitedly. They ran circles around Gizmo. The three dogs played together like old times. "I missed you so much," Leslie told Gizmo. The dog licked her face happily. His brown eyes sparkled with love. Elliot petted Gizmo's soft fur. "I remember him from pictures!" Elliot said. The dogs chased each other through the poppies. Leslie watched them with tears of happiness.
In the dusky meadow, Gizmo sits upright before Leslie, gazing into her eyes with serene intensity as orange sunset light halos them. Behind her, Tio Willy watches quietly, poppies glowing softly around their silhouettes.
Gizmo sat down in front of Leslie. He looked into her eyes as if speaking without words. Leslie felt his love in her heart. "Thank you," the feeling seemed to say. "Thank you for the wonderful life you gave me." Leslie understood somehow. "I'm happy here now," she felt Gizmo tell her. "I'm with Tio Willy and someone else you love." Leslie's eyes widened. "The Poppy Seed?" she whispered. Tio Willy nodded gently. Leslie's heart ached but felt warm too. "Your baby is here, safe and loved," Tio Willy said. Robert put his arm around Leslie. Tears rolled down both their faces.
At twilight in the flowered meadow, Tio Willy extends a luminous poppy containing a glowing seed toward Leslie, who cups it reverently against her heart. Robert stands beside her, their faces lit by gentle golden radiance.
Tio Willy reached into his pocket. He pulled out a beautiful poppy flower. Inside the flower was a tiny seed. The seed glowed and looked like a small baby. "This is for you," Tio Willy said. "To remember your Poppy Seed is always loved." Leslie took the flower carefully. She held it close to her heart. "Thank you," she whispered. The flower felt warm in her hands. Robert touched it gently too. "We'll treasure this forever," he said. Elliot looked at the glowing seed curiously. "Is that our baby?" he asked. "Yes," Leslie said softly. "Your little brother or sister." Aurora reached for the pretty flower.
Beneath a warm evening sky, Tio Willy hands Leslie a beige stuffed bear wearing tiny glasses, orange shirt, and black fanny pack identical to his own. Elliot giggles nearby, pointing playfully at the bear’s outfit amid softly rustling poppies.
"I have something else," Tio Willy said with a smile. He handed Leslie a beige stuffed bear. The bear wore tiny glasses, an orange shirt, and a black fanny pack. "Just like you!" Elliot laughed. The bear looked exactly like Tio Willy. "So you'll always remember me," Tio Willy explained. Leslie hugged the bear tight. "I could never forget you," she said. "But I'll love this forever." The bear was soft and smelled like cinnamon. "Thank you, Tio," Leslie said. She looked around at the magical world. The poppies swayed in a gentle breeze. Everything felt peaceful and full of love.
In a shower of glowing poppy petals, Leslie embraces Tio Willy one final time on the radiant hillside, tears sparkling in the bright light. Behind them, the meadow shimmers, signaling the approaching portal home.
"It's time to go home now," Tio Willy said gently. Leslie's tears returned. "I don't want to leave you," she said. "We'll always be together in your heart," Tio Willy replied. He hugged Leslie one last time. "Take care of your beautiful family." Leslie hugged Gizmo goodbye. Nimbo and Mishka licked Gizmo's face. "Goodbye, friend," they seemed to say. Leslie looked at the glowing poppy seed. "Goodbye, little one. Mama loves you." Robert held Elliot and Aurora close. "Thank you for this gift," he told Tio Willy. The world began to shimmer. The poppies glowed brighter. "We love you!" Leslie called out.
Back in the softly lit living-room, Leslie relaxes on the couch cradling the cinnamon-scented stuffed bear as Robert’s arm encircles her. Elliot pauses beside the coffee table, eyes wide at the softly glowing poppy flower lying there.
The portal opened beneath them. They were gently pulled back through. Colors swirled again as they traveled home. Then they landed softly on their couch. Everything looked normal again. The poppy flower on the wall was gone. "Did that really happen?" Elliot asked. Leslie looked at the stuffed bear in her arms. She saw the special poppy flower on the table. "Yes, it did," she smiled. Robert hugged his family close. Nimbo and Mishka settled on the floor peacefully. Aurora yawned sleepily. "We're so lucky," Leslie whispered. "Love never really goes away." The family sat together, feeling blessed and whole.