The shower of love continued until every single elf in the village had gotten a chance to embrace Leona and say something to her—words of apology, words of gratitude, words of love that had gone unspoken for far too long.
Leona had no choice but to smile and accept it all, even though she felt deeply embarrassed inside.
She wasn't used to this. Forty years of isolation had made her forget what it felt like to be held, to be cherished, to be welcomed.
The little ones were the most enthusiastic. They climbed onto their mother's, demanded to be lifted, and peppered her face with kisses.
Leona laughed, a genuine, surprised laugh and kissed them back, her heart swelling with each tiny embrace.
It felt like a drought was finally ending.
Forty years of emotional starvation, of holding back, of keeping everyone at arm's length and now, the love she had been denied for so long poured into her like rain after a long, cruel summer.
