Annie stood in the small, cosy bathroom, gently combing through Ryan's soft, dark hair. The little boy squirmed in her grasp, his boundless energy making it difficult for him to sit still. He giggled as she worked.
"Mommy, what's that?" Ryan asked, pointing to the small vial of potion in her hand.
Annie smiled softly, her heart clenching with both love and a pang of worry. "This, sweetheart, is just a little something to help you at school," she explained, trying to keep her tone light. "It's like a special spray that makes you smell like everyone else."
Ryan's eyes widened with intrigue. "Like magic?"
"Something like that," Annie said with a chuckle, carefully spraying the potion over his clothes and hair. "It's to keep you safe, my love. You remember how we talked about keeping secrets, right?"
Ryan nodded solemnly, his little face growing serious. "Like our secret hideout?"
