As she left the office that day, I returned to my desk, the financial reports now seeming trivial in comparison. I couldn’t shake the image of Anna and her brother, waiting in the park, from my mind.

Later that afternoon, I found myself wandering down to the park, a vague notion of checking in on them pulling me there. The crisp autumn air bit at my cheeks as I walked among the fallen leaves, scanning the area for any sign of them.

It didn’t take long to spot them. Anna was seated on a bench, her brother beside her. He looked younger, maybe seven, his cheeks pink from the cold. They shared a sandwich, talking quietly between bites.

I approached cautiously, unsure of how my presence would be received. Anna saw me first, her eyes widening in recognition.

“Hey,” I said, offering a small wave. “I just wanted to see how you were doing.”

Anna nudged her brother, and he looked up, curiosity bright in his eyes. “This is my brother, Jake,” she introduced, a touch of pride in her voice.

“Hi, Jake,” I said, crouching down to their level. “Nice to meet you.”

He nodded, his gaze flicking between Anna and me. “Thanks for the milk,” he said, his voice shy but genuine.

“You’re welcome,” I replied, feeling the warmth of their gratitude wash over me.

We chatted for a while, the conversation light and easy. I learned that they lived with their mom, who worked long hours at a local diner. The park was their after-school hangout, a place to wait until she finished her shift.

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