I snapped this photo because it looked perfect\u2014her grin, his pout, both of them in matching softness. But I didn\u2019t notice what was happening off-frame until it was too late.<\/p>\n
Amira had been obsessed with her new baby brother since we brought him home. Constant singing, wanting to help with diapers, fake burping sounds. I figured it was normal big-sister excitement. She\u2019s only four, still learning boundaries. So when she asked to hold him \u201call by herself,\u201d I said yes, as long as I stayed right there.<\/p>\n
I settled them into the corner of the couch, made sure her arm was around him just right. He was fussing a little, squirming, but nothing alarming. I grabbed my phone to snap a few pictures. The lighting was great. Her smile looked so proud.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s when I noticed him flinching.<\/p>\n
At first I thought it was just a newborn twitch. But then I saw her left hand\u2014tucked just out of frame\u2014digging hard into the fabric of his onesie. Not playfully. Her tiny nails were clenched.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"