IAN'S POV
Lana looked shyly at me, clutching her stuffed animal to her chest. I knelt down to her level and smiled at her. "Hello, Lana," I said gently. "It's nice to meet you."
Lana remained silent, her eyes fixed on me.
After a moment, I reached out my hand to her. "Would you like to shake hands?" I asked.
Lana hesitated, then slowly reached out her hand and placed it in mine. I gently shook it, then let go. "That was very brave of you," I said.
A smile crept onto Lana's face, and she looked up at her mommy. "Can Ian be my friend too?" she asked.
Leah's eyes widened and she looked at me, a hopeful expression on her face. "What do you think, Ian?" she asked.
I could feel my heart swell at Lana's question. It was clear that she was still feeling shy, but she had take
