The Love Tree: A Story of Adoption

    By Mandi Minnaar

    The Love Tree: A Story of Adoption cover image

    12 Oct, 2024

    two girls standing in front of a street with houses on it and a sunset in the background, with a person standing behind them, a storybook illustration, disney, magical realism, comic cover art

    Avery was a little girl with a world full of questions. She lived in a small house filled with love and laughter.

    a woman and a little girl standing in a room with toys on the shelves and a window behind them, a storybook illustration, disney, sots art, official art

    One day, while playing with her toys, Avery asked her Mom, 'Mom, why don't I look like you?'

    a cartoon girl standing in a bedroom with teddy bears and a bed in the background with a teddy bear on the floor, a storybook illustration, Alexis Simon Belle, photorealism, pixar and disney animation

    Her Mom smiled, took a deep breath, and said, 'Avery, it's because we are like two different flowers in the same garden.'

    a woman sitting on a bed with a teddy bear in her hand and a teddy bear on the bed, a storybook illustration, Beatrice Huntington, photorealism, kinkade

    Avery looked puzzled. 'But Mom, all the flowers in our garden look the same.'

    a girl standing in a bedroom with teddy bears and a bed with a lot of pictures on the wall, a storybook illustration, Chris LaBrooy, photorealism, pixar and disney animation

    Her Mom nodded, 'Yes, but there are gardens with different kinds of flowers, and they're all beautiful.'

    a painting of a girl in a flower garden with flowers around her and a blue dress with white and yellow flowers, an ultrafine detailed painting, Alice Prin, photorealism, kinkade

    They walked to the garden. Avery's eyes widened with excitement, 'So, I am a different flower?'

    a painting of two girls in a field of flowers with a butterfly on her shoulder and a butterfly on her shoulder, a storybook illustration, Ella Guru, magical realism, comic cover art

    Her Mom nodded, 'Yes, you're a special flower. You were not born from my tummy but from my heart.'

    a woman and a little girl standing in front of flowers and a house with a flower garden in the background, a storybook illustration, Anne Said, american scene painting, official art

    Avery's eyes filled with curiosity. 'How can a baby be born from the heart, Mom?'

    a painting of a mother and daughter in a flower garden with trees and flowers in the background and a sky, a storybook illustration, disney, lyco art, kinkade

    Her Mom smiled, 'When a Mom and Dad love a child so much, they adopt them. That's how the child is born from the heart.'

    a painting of a girl sitting in a field of flowers with a tree in the background and a background of flowers, a storybook illustration, Alice Prin, photorealism, highly detailed digital painting

    Avery thought for a moment, 'So, you and Dad love me so much that you adopted me?'

    a painting of a mother and daughter in a park with flowers on the trees and flowers on the ground, a storybook illustration, Ella Guru, american scene painting, comic cover art

    Her Mom hugged her tightly, 'Yes, Avery. We loved you even before we met you. You are our special flower.'

    a painting of a young girl hugging a younger girl in a flowery park with a tree in the background, a storybook illustration, disney, context art, pixar and disney animation

    Avery hugged her Mom back, her heart full of love. 'I love you too, Mom. I'm glad I'm your special flower.'

    a woman and a child are in bed together, with the child hugging her mother's chest and the night sky in the background, a storybook illustration, Evgeny Lushpin, space art, storybook illustration

    That night, as Avery fell asleep, she felt a sense of belonging. She was a flower, a very special one, in a garden full of love.

    a painting of a girl sitting on a bed with a t - shirt on and a pair of shoes on, a storybook illustration, Drew Struzan, serial art, key art

    She knew she was different, and she was proud of it. Being different made her unique, and she loved being unique.

    a girl is laying in bed with a baby in her arms and flowers all around her head and a clock on the wall, a storybook illustration, Diego Gisbert Llorens, magical realism, storybook illustration

    Avery drifted off to sleep, dreaming of gardens full of different flowers, all beautiful in their own way.

    a painting of two girls walking in a park together, one of them is holding the hand of the other, a storybook illustration, disney, serial art, official art

    The next day at the park, Avery saw children who looked different from their parents, just like her.

    a cartoon of a woman and two children in a flower garden with flowers around her and a group of other children in the background, a storybook illustration, Ella Guru, private press, comic cover art

    She walked up to them, her eyes gleaming with excitement, 'Are you also special flowers?'

    a cartoon of a girl holding hands with other girls in a park behind her, all wearing dresses and holding hands, a storybook illustration, Ella Guru, american scene painting, comic cover art

    The children looked puzzled, but Avery explained what her Mom had told her. Soon, they were all smiling, feeling special.

    a cartoon girl in a yellow dress is walking with her children through a park with flowers and trees on either side of her, a storybook illustration, Ella Guru, private press, promotional image

    Avery made new friends that day, all special flowers like her, all loved and cherished.

    a woman and a child sitting on a couch together in a room with pictures on the wall and a window, a storybook illustration, Alexis Simon Belle, lyco art, pixar and disney animation

    That evening, Avery told her Mom about her new friends. Her Mom smiled, 'See, there are many special flowers in this world.'

    a cartoon girl standing in front of a window with potted plants in front of her and smiling at the camera, a storybook illustration, Alexis Simon Belle, magical realism, comic cover art

    Avery nodded, her heart filled with happiness. 'Yes, Mom. And every garden is more beautiful with special flowers like us.'

    a painting of a mother and daughter hugging each other in front of a window with sun shining through the window, a storybook illustration, Brothers Hildebrandt, american scene painting, kinkade

    Her Mom kissed her forehead, 'That's right, Avery. You make our garden beautiful. And remember, you are always so loved.'

    The Love Tree: A Story of Adoption

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