She tilts the leaf, watches raindrops roll along the spine, merging into a tiny pool. Studying the sunlight refracted in the meniscus, she tells me of rainbows and miniature fairy lands where unicorns live. My heart soars, gladdened to find not every child requires modern technology to stir their imagination.

Helen M. Merrick lives in the UK Midlands with her family. She scribbles short stories in her free time and dreams about writing a novel. She might, one day. Follow her on Twitter.