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The Butterfly Boy and the Birthday That Changed Everything | Sleeping Reddit Pills
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Jul 2, 2025
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View Video Transcript
0:00
hey there folks welcome to Sleeping
0:02
Reddit Pills where we share stories that
0:04
hit you right in the heart i'm just a
0:07
guy who loves a good tale and today I've
0:10
got one that'll make you laugh cry and
0:12
cheer all at once
0:14
it's about a kid named Ethan his mom
0:17
Sarah his grandma Eleanor and a birthday
0:20
party that flipped their world upside
0:21
down so grab a coffee get comfy and
0:25
let's dive into this one it's a quiet
0:27
morning in a cozy house on the edge of
0:29
town sarah's in the kitchen holding her
0:32
coffee mug like it's keeping her
0:34
grounded she's watching her son Ethan
0:37
out in the backyard ethan's 12 and he's
0:40
in his motorized wheelchair tossing
0:42
seeds to the birds in his garden he's
0:45
got a condition that means he needs the
0:46
chair and some tubes to breathe but that
0:49
doesn't stop him from loving his flowers
0:50
and birds he's out there moving through
0:53
the flower beds his face glowing like
0:56
he's just spotted a new species sarah
0:59
smiles but her hands are trembling she's
1:01
on the phone with her sister-in-law
1:03
Rachel and it's not a fun call rachel's
1:05
voice comes through sharp and cold
1:08
she's planning Eleanor's 75th birthday
1:10
party eleanor's Ethan's grandma and
1:13
she's got some real strong feelings
1:15
about the guest list sarah she says all
1:19
fake sweet we want this party to look
1:22
perfect ethan's wheelchair and all that
1:24
equipment it's going to make people
1:27
uneasy
1:29
sarah's grip on her mug tightens she can
1:32
see Ethan chuckling as a Blue Jay hops
1:34
close to his chair totally clueless that
1:36
his aunt wants to keep him away from his
1:38
grandma's big day sarah keeps her cool
1:40
though her stomach's in knots it's
1:43
Elellanar's 75th Rachel ethan should be
1:46
there we've been planning this for
1:48
months but Rachel's not budging she sigh
1:51
like Sarah's the one being difficult
1:54
look I hired a pro photographer this is
1:57
going to be a fancy party at my place
1:59
not some charity event his gear is going
2:02
to mess up the whole look sarah's blood
2:04
starts to heat up mess up the look
2:08
ethan's out there happier than most
2:10
folks ever are despite everything he's
2:11
been through this kid's fought harder to
2:14
be here than Rachel could ever
2:15
understand and she's worried about her
2:17
party picks sarah glances out the window
2:20
again ethan's carefully setting seeds in
2:22
a bird feeder his hands steady despite
2:25
the effort it takes "he's got this light
2:27
in him this joy that his condition can't
2:30
touch." "Ellanar wants him there," Sarah
2:34
says her voice firm "have you even asked
2:37
her what she thinks?" Rachel gives a
2:39
sharp laugh mom's not in any shape to
2:42
decide stuff her meds have her all mixed
2:44
up as her caregiver I'm making the call
2:47
for everyone
2:49
sarah's about to fire back when she
2:50
hears a rustle on the line then a quick
2:52
gasp suddenly Eleanor's voice cuts in
2:55
strong and clear
2:58
rachel Marie Thompson what did you just
3:00
say about my grandson there's a pause
3:02
and Sarah can imagine Rachel's face
3:04
going pale
3:06
eleanor's voice comes again fiercer than
3:08
it's been in months
3:10
hand me that phone right now rachel
3:13
tries to argue mom you need to rest but
3:17
Elellanar's not having it sarah you're
3:19
still there hun she says sarah nods even
3:23
though Eleanor can't see yeah Elellanar
3:26
I'm here eleanor's tone softens but it's
3:30
got an edge of steel you bring my Ethan
3:33
to this party i don't care what anybody
3:34
says it's my birthday and I want all my
3:36
grandkids here her voice waivers just a
3:40
touch and tell Ethan I got that
3:42
butterfly book he loves waiting for him
3:45
sarah's eyes sting elellanar's always
3:48
seen Ethan for who he is a smart curious
3:51
kid who can name every butterfly in
3:53
North America not just some kid in a
3:55
chair rachel gets back on the line her
3:57
voice tight with irritation fine bring
4:00
him but keep him off to the side or
4:02
something i don't want him in the main
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photos
4:06
sarah hangs up without a word her pulse
4:08
racing she looks out at Ethan now
4:11
watching a cardinal flit around his
4:12
feeder
4:14
he's more real than Rachel will ever be
4:16
and Sarah's not about to let anyone make
4:18
him feel small the party day arrives
4:20
crisp and sunny the kind of fall day
4:23
that feels like a gift
4:25
sarah helps Ethan into his favorite blue
4:27
shirt the one that matches his eyes and
4:30
checks that his chair and equipment are
4:32
good to go
4:34
they roll up to Rachel's big fancy house
4:36
where the party's already buzzing
4:39
the place is decked out like something
4:40
from a Pinterest board string lights
4:42
perfect table settings the whole deal
4:45
rachel meets them at the door her makeup
4:48
flawless but her frown obvious
4:51
use the side entrance she mutters the
4:54
photographers setting up in the main
4:55
hall
4:57
sarah's about to snap back when
4:58
Elellanar appears behind Rachel moving
5:00
quick with her walker ethan my butterfly
5:03
boy," she calls her smile brighter than
5:06
the sun "come on in i've been waiting
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for you." Ethan grins guiding his chair
5:11
through the front door even though
5:13
Rachel's clearly annoyed
5:15
david Sarah's husband and Rachel's
5:18
brother is there too he got back from
5:20
his work trip just in time and insisted
5:22
on coming to support Ethan the
5:25
photographer a young woman named Lily
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with a warm smile spots Ethan and heads
5:30
over
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you're Ethan right?" she says all
5:33
friendly "your grandma's been raving
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about you i hear you're into nature
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photography want to see my camera
5:39
setup?"
5:41
Rachel's face sour but Lily's already
5:43
showing Ethan her gear asking about the
5:45
wildlife shots he's taken from his chair
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ethan lights up talking about his photos
5:51
like a pro the party rolls on and
5:53
despite Rachel's attempts to keep Ethan
5:55
out of the spotlight Eleanor's not
5:57
having it she keeps Ethan by her side
6:00
introducing him to everyone as her
6:02
brilliant grandson who knows more about
6:04
butterflies than Nat Gio sarah notices
6:07
Elellanor's looking a bit worn out but
6:09
her eyes are sharp and she's jotting
6:11
things in a little notebook now and then
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her face thoughtful
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sarah wonders what's up but figures
6:17
Ellanar's just being her quirky self 2
6:20
weeks later everything changes sarah
6:22
gets a call ellaner passed away in her
6:25
sleep peaceful and quiet the family's
6:28
heartbroken and Sarah's still reeling
6:30
when they get word about the will
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reading elellanar left strict
6:34
instructions everyone's got to be there
6:37
sarah Ethan and David show up at Mr
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larson's law office rachel's there front
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and center dressed in designer black
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like she's in a movie about her own
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tragedy she keeps glancing at Ethan's
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wheelchair parked next to Sarah clearly
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bugged by the soft hum of his breathing
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gear we should make this quick Rachel
6:56
says to the room all this medical
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stuff's messing with the mood mr larson
7:02
Elellanar's lawyer for over 30 years
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gives Rachel a look over his glasses
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like he's not impressed
7:09
actually Mrs thompson Elellanar wanted
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everyone comfortable and present for
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this let's get started
7:16
he pulls out a thick envelope still
7:18
sealed
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this was updated 2 weeks ago the day
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after Eleanor's 75th birthday
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rachel perks up a smug smile on her face
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as Eleanor's caregiver she's clearly
7:31
expecting to walk away with everything
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mr lson starts reading to my daughter
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Rachel I leave my collection of family
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photographs in the hope you'll learn to
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see the true beauty in all your family
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not just the ones who fit your idea of
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perfect rachel's smile vanishes that's
7:48
it she blurts out sarah hides a grin but
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Ethan's just listening his eyes big mr
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lson keeps going to my son David I leave
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my late husband's woodworking tools and
7:59
workshop knowing you'll keep building
8:01
beautiful things with patience and care
8:04
david grips Sarah's hand his eyes wet he
8:07
spent countless hours in that workshop
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with his dad as a kid and this hits him
8:11
hard
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to my daughter-in-law Sarah Mr larson
8:15
says his voice warm i leave my personal
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library and all its contents including
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my rare botanical books your kind heart
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and fierce love for those you care about
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remind me so much of myself." Sarah's
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throat tightens thinking of all the
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afternoons she spent with Eleanor in
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that library talking books while Ethan
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played nearby then Mr larson looks at
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Ethan his voice softening
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to my beloved grandson Ethan I leave my
8:43
house and grounds including the
8:45
greenhouse and gardens along with a
8:47
trust to maintain them your love of
8:50
nature and ability to find beauty in
8:52
every living thing has been one of my
8:54
greatest joys."
8:56
Ethan's eyes go wide his mouth open the
8:59
gardens his special place with Eleanor
9:01
where she taught him about butterflies
9:02
and plants are his now sarah's heart
9:06
feels like it's going to burst mr
9:08
larson's not done the rest of my estate
9:11
is split into two parts the first will
9:13
create a foundation to make public
9:15
gardens more accessible for people with
9:17
disabilities the second will fund a
9:19
butterfly conservation program to be
9:21
overseen by Ethan when he's older rachel
9:24
jumps up her face red this is crazy she
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was confused all those meds I took care
9:30
of her that house should be mine
9:33
mr larson calmly pulls out another
9:35
envelope
9:36
eleanor expected this reaction he says
9:39
"She asked me to read this letter if you
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objected." He clears his throat and
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reads "My dearest family if you're
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hearing this Rachel's upset about my
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choices let me be clear i was fully
9:52
sound of mind when I made these
9:53
decisions at my birthday party I saw
9:56
things clearly i overheard Rachel trying
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to keep Ethan away watched her try to
10:01
hide him all day i realized she'd lost
10:04
sight of what matters a family's beauty
10:07
isn't in photos or appearances it's in
10:09
the love we show especially to those who
10:12
face life's toughest challenges i've
10:14
seen Ethan tackle every obstacle with
10:16
courage and joy while Rachel's grown
10:19
shallow and cold the house and gardens
10:21
will thrive under Ethan's care because
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he knows true beauty grows in unexpected
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places the rooms quiet except for the
10:29
soft hum of Ethan's gear
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rachel's stunned her face a mix of shock
10:34
and anger but for a moment her eyes
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flicker with something else maybe shame
10:41
mr larson folds the letter the will is
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legally binding Mrs thompson eleanor had
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two doctors confirm her mental
10:48
competency the day she made these
10:50
changes rachel turns to David desperate
10:54
you can't let this happen it's not fair
10:57
but David shakes his head no Rachel
11:01
what's not fair is how you've treated my
11:02
son all these years mom made her call
11:05
and I back her as they leave the office
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Sarah catches their reflection in a
11:09
window Ethan in his chair surrounded by
11:11
people who love him just as he is rachel
11:15
stands off to the side her perfect image
11:17
starting to crack the real estate
11:19
paperwork's coming next week and soon
11:22
Ethan's butterfly garden will officially
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be his a gift from the grandma who saw
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his true worth
11:28
rachel's got her photos perfect
11:30
snapshots of a perfection that was never
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real
11:34
maybe one day she'll see past them a
11:36
month later Sarah and Ethan are at the
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entrance of their new garden spring's
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coming bringing the first butterflies of
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the season the house behind them is
11:46
getting ramps wider doors and equipment
11:48
to make it fully accessible for Ethan
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david's leading the renovations
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determined to make his mom's home
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perfect for his son rachel hasn't spoken
11:59
to them since the will reading though
12:01
family gossip says she's looking into
12:02
legal options
12:04
when Sarah told Mr lson he just chuckled
12:08
"ellaner made it airtight," he said
12:10
ethan's voice pulls Sarah back "look
12:13
Mom," he says pointing to a monarch
12:16
butterfly on his wheelchair's armrest
12:18
its orange wings shining in the sun
12:21
"grandma always said they were good
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luck."
12:24
More butterflies show up drawn to the
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flowers Ellaner planted over the years
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ethan lists their scientific names
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papilio Pelixinis Denounce Plexipus with
12:35
a big grin like it's no big deal a voice
12:38
calls from the driveway
12:40
it's Lily the photographer smiling as
12:43
she walks up hope I'm not bothering you
12:46
she says holding an envelope i've got
12:49
something you'll want to see inside are
12:51
photos from Eleanor's party not the
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stiff posed shots Rachel wanted but real
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moments eleanor and Ethan laughing over
13:00
a butterfly book ethan showing another
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kid how his chair works
13:05
elellanor beaming as she talks to her
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grandkids
13:09
eleanor asked me to take these Lily says
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she said the best pictures capture real
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life not stage stuff sarah's eyes well
13:17
up as she looks through the photos
13:19
ethan's gear is in every shot but it
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doesn't take away from the beauty it
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adds to it showing his strength then
13:26
Lily lowers her voice there's more at
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the party I overheard Rachel on the
13:31
phone trying to arrange to move
13:33
Elellanar to a nursing home saying she
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wasn't competent i told Elellanar what I
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heard she asked for my card and said she
13:39
had some urgent business to handle
13:42
sarah's jaw drops it all makes sense
13:45
elellanar's will change wasn't just
13:46
about the party she was protecting
13:48
herself and her legacy from Rachel's
13:50
plans before Sarah can respond there's a
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stir at the gate it's Rachel holding a
13:57
designer handbag like a shield her
13:59
makeup not quite hiding the strain in
14:01
her eyes
14:02
i want to talk to Ethan she says her
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voice loud enough to startle a few
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butterflies sarah starts to step in but
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Ethan touches her arm it's okay Mom this
14:13
is my place now i got this rachel walks
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up her heels sinking into the garden
14:18
path she stops a few feet from Ethan's
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chair looking uneasy
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"i've been thinking," she says her eyes
14:26
darting away "maybe we could share the
14:28
house i could help run things keep it
14:31
looking nice you know keep stuff out of
14:34
the way."
14:36
Ethan looks at her his voice calm but
14:37
kid-like
14:39
aunt Rachel this place isn't about
14:41
looking perfect it's about growing stuff
14:43
loving stuff like Grandma showed me you
14:46
can keep your pictures i've got the real
14:49
thing here he points to the garden where
14:52
a butterfly lands on a flower rachel
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stands there quiet her shoulder slumping
14:57
just a bit like she's starting to see
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something she missed before sarah
15:01
watches her heart full ethan's got
15:04
Elellanar's spirit her strength her love
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for what's real the gardens alive with
15:08
butterflies each one a piece of
15:10
Eleanor's legacy a legacy of seeing
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beauty where others don't of loving
15:14
fiercely and of standing up for what's
15:16
right
15:18
rachel turns and walks away her heels
15:20
clicking but Sarah knows this isn't over
15:23
maybe one day Rachel will get what
15:25
Eleanor and Ethan always knew that true
15:28
beauty isn't in a perfect photo it's in
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the real messy moments that make life
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special as the sun sets Ethan points out
15:36
a swallowtail butterfly "grandma would
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have loved this," he says his voice soft
15:41
but sure sarah nods blinking back tears
15:45
yeah buddy she would have and somewhere
15:48
Sarah knows Elanor's smiling watching
15:51
her butterfly boy tend to the garden she
15:53
left him a place where love grows wild
15:55
and free just like the butterflies
15:57
that's it for this story folks
16:00
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16:02
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16:05
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16:07
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16:12
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16:15
catch you next time with another tale
16:17
that'll make you feel all the feels
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