"Hello there," whispers Sara, stroking the soft skin beneath her hand. She's usually not good with kids, but this child is something precious.

"H'lo," the girl says in return, fumbling with the unfamiliar world. Her forehead creases in concentration. "H'lo."

Sara muffles a laugh. The cuteness helps to send the last of the weariness and mental fog away for the time being, and she feels more clear-headed than she has in ages. "You're so adorable it's sickening," she says.