"Whoa," he whispered.
He fished one out with a fork. It was delicate, sharp, and melted on his tongue with a bitter, salty snap. It was real. He had made something beautiful out of laundry salt and hot water. making crystals with epsom salt
The jar was a frozen forest of magic. Spiky, needle-like crystals had climbed the sides of the glass and woven themselves into a tangled web at the bottom. They shimmered like pale blue icicles from a fairy tale. When he tilted the jar, the liquid moved, but the crystals stayed, clinging to the glass as if they had always belonged there. "Whoa," he whispered
But morning is the great revealer of secrets. Leo shuffled into the kitchen, still in his dinosaur pajamas, and opened the fridge. His breath caught. It was real
He went to bed disappointed.
"It's also for crystals," she said, and that was all the encouragement he needed.
Leo wasn't bored anymore. He was a creator. And all it took was salt, water, and the magic of a quiet night.