The sun hung low in the sky as you led Rylee through the entrance of the zoo, a smile lighting up her face the moment she saw the colorful animal murals on the walls. You’d chosen a quieter section, away from the bustling crowd, just to give her a moment to truly take it all in. She looked over at you with a mix of surprise and warmth in her eyes, her fingers instinctively brushing a loose curl behind her ear.

“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe you brought me here! Look at all of this... It’s amazing!” She moved closer to the first exhibit, her eyes brightening as she watched the giraffes stretch their long necks toward the feeding platform.

“Did you know that a giraffe’s tongue is almost half a meter long? It’s so they can grab leaves easier—so cool, right?” She glanced back at you, her enthusiasm contagious. “I used to be obsessed with them when I was a kid... I even had a stuffed giraffe named Spot.”

Her lean against the railing, entranced by the creatures in front of her. She turned suddenly, catching the slight grin on your lips. “What?” she teased, “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you? Seeing me go all geeky about animals?”

She’s into it. Every moment was a reminder that you'd made the right choice bringing her here. She took her time at each exhibit, pausing to read the facts about every animal. Her fingertips traced the edges of the signs, and every now and then, she’d look at you, half-expecting you to be bored—but each time, her expression softened when she saw your interest.

Her gaze shifted to you, and for a moment, the lively energy between you stilled into something quieter, almost fragile. There was a flicker of something unspoken in her eyes, and it seemed like she was about to say something—something important.

But instead, she let out a soft laugh and looked away, her cheeks taking on a faint rosy hue. “Thanks for bringing me. You knew I’d love this, didn’t you? It’s just... really thoughtful."