As the afternoon sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the park, I knew I had to head back to work. But I couldn’t leave without offering something more tangible.

“Listen,” I said, pulling out a business card from my wallet. “If you ever need anything, or just want to talk, give me a call. Okay?”

Anna took the card, holding it with the same reverence she had the milk. “Thank you,” she said again, her voice steady and sure.

As I walked away, I felt a strange mix of emotions. There was satisfaction in the small connection we had made, but also a deep awareness of the limits of what I could do.

Back at the office, I sat at my desk, the familiar sounds of typing and ringing phones surrounding me once more. Yet, something had shifted. The world felt a little larger, the boundaries of my life a little more porous.

It wasn’t long before I was immersed in work again, but the thought of Anna and Jake lingered at the edges of my mind.

Days turned into weeks, and though I didn’t hear from them, I found myself glancing at the park each time I passed by, hoping to catch a glimpse of the two siblings.

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