The voice belonged to an older woman, her eyes gentle and understanding. She smiled reassuringly at Maya, her hands extended in a gesture of support. “I’m a mother and a grandmother,” she said softly, her tone soothing. “Would you like me to hold him for a bit? Sometimes a new face can help.”

Maya hesitated for a moment, uncertainty mingling with gratitude. But as she looked into the woman’s kind eyes, she felt a sense of trust wash over her. Nodding, she carefully handed her son over. The woman cradled the baby expertly, her touch calming as she began to hum a soft lullaby.